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Festival Profile

Bhai Dooj

Brothers visit sisters who apply tilak and pray for their long life.

All festivals

Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. A sister applies tilak on her brother and prays for his long life, and he gifts her in return.

Stories behind the festival

Yama and Yamuna

The river goddess Yamuna invited her brother Yama to her home and served him. Pleased, Yama granted that any brother who visits his sister on this day and receives her tilak would be blessed with long life. Thus the day honours the sibling bond.
Yama-Yamuna legend

Yama and Yamuna

The river goddess Yamuna invited her brother Yama to her home and served him. Pleased, Yama granted that any brother who visits his sister on this day and receives her tilak would be blessed with long life. Thus the day honours the sibling bond.
Yama-Yamuna legend

Why we celebrate

Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. A sister applies tilak on her brother and prays for his long life, and he gifts her in return.
Regional Diwali tradition

When

Bhai Dooj falls on the second day (Dwitiya) of the bright fortnight of Kartik, after Diwali.

Since when it is followed

The Yama-Yamuna legend places the origin in ancient times.
Regional legend

Who celebrates / for whom

Celebrated by Hindus across India as the final day of Diwali.

Origin

The origin is linked to the legends of Yama and Yamuna, and to the bond between Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra.
Yama-Yamuna legend

Key deities

Lord Yama and Goddess Yamuna are honoured in the associated legend.

How to celebrate

A sister applies tilak, performs aarti, offers sweets, and prays for her brother; the brother gifts her and shares a meal.

Rituals & offerings

Tilak, aarti, sweets, and the brother-sister meal.

Key facts

Bhai Dooj is the last day of the five-day Diwali festival.
Diwali tradition
Bhai Dooj is the last day of the five-day Diwali festival.
Diwali tradition