Bhai Dooj 2024: From Bhau Beej To Bhatru Dwitiya, Popular Names This Festival Is Known Across India
Bhai Dooj, which is being celebrated on November 3 this year, is also observed as Bhau Beej, Bhai Bij, and Bhai Phota.
Bhai Dooj is a much revered festival celebrated by Hindus on the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika. It is observed during the Diwali or Tihar festival, and is similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan. On the day of the festival, sisters perform aarti for their brother and apply a red tika on their forehead, which in turn, is significant for the duty of a brother to protect his sister. The festival is also about the sister's blessings for her brother. Just like Raksha Bandhan, elder brothers bless their sisters and offer them gifts or cash as well.
This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on November 3, on the day followed by Govardhan Puja. However, it is interesting to note that in India, Bhai Dooj is known by various names despite the purpose of the festival remaining the same – which is to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters.
Check out some of the names this festival is known across India by:
Bhai Dooj: It is the most common name of the festival and popular in Northern regions of India. It is observed on the second lunar day of the light fortnight or Shukla Paksha of Kartika – the eighth month of the Hindu Shalivahana Shaka or Vikram Samvat calendar.
Bhau Beej: The festival is known as Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, and during the celebrations, the sisters apply tilak on their brother's forehead, and wish for their safety, and well-being.
Bhai Bij: The festival is popularly known as Bhai Bij in Gujarat, and it revolves around brothers pampering their sisters with gifts.
Bhatru Dwitiya: Bhai Dooj is known as Bhatru Dwitiya in South India and Odisha, and celebrates the bond of love between the God of Death, Yamaraj and his sister Yamuna river.
Bhav Bij: The festival is known as Bhav Bij in the Konkani and Goan region, and is observed to mark the end of Diwali.
Bhatri Ditya: The festival is known as Bhatri Ditya in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and is known to be the day when Yamraj, god of death, visited his sister Yamuna, who welcomed him by putting tilak.
Bhai Phota: The festival is known as Bhai Phota in certain regions of West Bengal and Assam, and is observed on the first or the second day of the Kali Puja festival.
Bhai Tikka: Bhai Dooj is known as Bhai Tikka in Nepal. It is celebrated on the third day of Tihar since the festival of Diwali is known as Tihar in Nepal.
Yama Dwitiya: Last but not the least, Bhai Dooj is known as Yama Dwitiya in South India, especially in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. As the name goes, it is derived from the god of death, Yamraj.
In Haryana and Maharashtra, Bhai Dooj is celebrated as Bhau-beej, and women who do not have a brother worship the Moon instead.
