Bhai Dooj is a beloved Hindu festival that honors the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. It marks the culmination of the five-day Diwali festival, which begins with Dhanteras and continues through Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, and Govardhan Puja. Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhau Beej, Bhai Phota, Bhartru Dwitiya, Bhratri Dwitiya, and Yama Dwitiya, is celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month.
In 2025, Bhai Dooj falls on Thursday, October 23, 2025. On this day, sisters lovingly perform a tilak ceremony for their brothers, pray for their long and prosperous life, and prepare festive meals. Brothers, in turn, give gifts and promise lifelong protection for their sisters. The rituals not only highlight affection but also trace back to ancient legends that signify liberation, prosperity, and divine blessings.
Key Highlights of Bhai Dooj 2025
The central event of Bhai Dooj is the tilak ritual performed during the Aparahna Muhurat (afternoon). The auspicious timings for 2025 are:
| Event | Date | Timing (New Delhi, India) |
| Bhai Dooj Date 2025 | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | All Day |
| Dwitiya Tithi Begins | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 08:16 PM |
| Dwitiya Tithi Ends | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 10:46 PM |
| Aparahna Tika Muhurat | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 01:13 PM – 03:28 PM |
| Tika Duration | — | 2 Hours 15 Minutes |
Bhai Dooj Holiday 2025
Bhai Dooj is observed with devotion across India, but it is not recognized as a nationwide public or bank holiday. However, in states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Maharashtra, some local businesses, schools, and offices may declare a holiday to allow families to celebrate.
| Date | Day | Festival | Holiday Status |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Thursday | Bhai Dooj | Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Sikkim, Uttarakhand
Not a nationwide holiday (regional observance only) |
Bhai Dooj is a public holiday in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand. It is also widely celebrated across other states like Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka (where it’s called Bhai Bij), and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka (where it’s referred to as Yama Dwitiya), though it’s not a public holiday in these regions. In West Bengal, the festival is celebrated as Bhai Phonta, with its own regional variations.
History of Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj finds its roots in Hindu mythology and family traditions:
Legend of Yamuna and Yama
According to Hindu scriptures, the river goddess Yamuna invited her brother Yama, the God of Death, to her home on this day. She welcomed him with sweets, performed an aarti, and applied a tilak on his forehead. In return, Yama granted her a boon: any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day would enjoy a long and prosperous life.
Lord Krishna and Subhadra
Another legend associates the festival with Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura. After the battle, Krishna visited his sister Subhadra, who welcomed him with sweets, flowers, and a ceremonial tilak. This gesture is believed to have inspired the Bhai Dooj tradition.
Both stories emphasize the protective love between siblings and the sacredness of family ties.
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Significance of Bhai Dooj 2025
Bhai Dooj is more than a ritual; it is a cultural reminder of duty, love, and blessings:
- Bond of Protection: Sisters pray for their brothers’ health and long life, while brothers promise to protect them.
- Spiritual Belief: The tilak ceremony is believed to ward off evil and invite prosperity.
- Family Unity: The festival strengthens family bonds, often bringing together extended relatives.
- Cultural Importance: In Nepal and parts of India, Bhai Dooj carries additional regional names and variations, reflecting the diversity of traditions.
Bhai Dooj Celebrations
The celebrations of Bhai Dooj involve a blend of rituals, feasting, and the exchange of gifts, observed slightly differently across regions.
Preparations
- Sisters wake up early, bathe, and prepare for the ceremony.
- They arrange a pooja thali (worship platter) with essential items: roli, akshat (rice), haldi, diya, supari, dry coconut, sweets, and Mauli dhaga. Some regions also use a seven-colored tilak.
Tilak Ceremony
- The brother sits facing north or northeast.
- The sister applies a tilak on his forehead, ties a sacred thread on his wrist, and performs aarti. This is followed by offering sweets and water.
Festive Meal
Sisters prepare traditional foods such as puri, halwa, kheer, and mithai. Brothers share this meal as a blessing ritual.
Exchange of Gifts
- Brothers give gifts, jewelry, or money as tokens of love.
- Sisters reciprocate with prayers for their brothers’ well-being.
Regional Variations
- In Bengal, the festival is called Bhai Phota. Sisters chant mantras while applying phota (tilak).
- In Maharashtra and Goa, it is celebrated as Bhau Beej, where sisters invite brothers for meals.
- Some unmarried women worship the Moon God (Chandra) in place of a brother
Conclusion
Bhai Dooj 2025, celebrated on October 23, is a sacred occasion that goes beyond ritual to express unconditional sibling love. Rooted in legends of Yama-Yamuna and Krishna-Subhadra, the festival symbolizes prayers for longevity, protection, and prosperity. With rituals like tilak, feasts, and gift exchanges, Bhai Dooj remains a cherished reminder of the strength and sanctity of sibling bonds, marking a meaningful conclusion to the Diwali celebrations.
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