Bhai Dooj

Bhaiya Dooj is a most important and famous festival of India when sisters make a pray to God for their honey brothers to get a long living and successful life. Sisters perform puja and tika ceremony as well as gets returns gifts from brothers. It is also called in India at various places as Bhau Beej (in the Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka), Bhai Tika (in Nepal), Bhathru Dwithiya, Bhau-deej, Bhai Phota (in Bengal), and Ningol Chakuba (in Manipur).

All the sisters wake very near the beginning in the morning wear the new clothes and worship and pray to God and Goddesses for the better future and health of their brothers. After puja ceremony celebration takes place including tika ceremony by putting vermillion, dahi and rice on their forehead. After this ceremony they do aarti and offer sweet and glass of water to eat and drink. Finally they exchange gifts and take blessing by touching the feet of elders.

It is also celebrated outside the country. It is just like the Raksha Bandhan festival to enlarge the bond of love among brothers and sisters. At this auspicious day sisters make pray to God for the well being and welfare of their special brothers while brothers offer gifts according to their strength in order to show their love and care for their loving sisters. There are variety of stories and legends which are related to the origin and celebration of this special occasion.