Traditions, Rituals, and Regional Variations Across India and Nepal (2025 Edition)
Bhai Dooj is a traditional Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It marks the final day of the five-day-long Diwali festivities and falls on the second lunar day (Dwitiya) of Shukla Paksha in the Kartika month of the Hindu calendar. In 2025, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Monday, October 27.
Also known by different names such as Bhai Tika, Bhaiya Dooj, Bhau Beej, and Bhai Phonta, this festival is observed with slight variations in rituals and customs across different parts of India and Nepal. However, its core message remains the same: a sister prays for her brother’s well-being, while the brother vows to protect her throughout life.
Rituals and Customs
The Bhai Dooj celebration typically begins with the sister inviting her brother to her home for a ceremonial gathering. The rituals are simple yet deeply symbolic:
- Sacred Seat: Sisters prepare a small seat (aasan) for their brother using rice flour.
- Tika Ceremony: A paste made from vermillion (sindoor), curd (dahi), and rice grains is applied to the brother’s forehead as a mark of protection and good fortune.
- Offerings and Mantras: The sister places pumpkin flowers (kaddu ke phool), betel leaves, betel nuts, and coins in her brother’s palms while chanting mantras dedicated to Yama, the Hindu god of death, asking for his blessings and protection for her brother.
- Aarti and Kalawa: A sacred thread (kalawa) is tied around the brother’s wrist, followed by an aarti (ritual of light) using a lamp facing the south, which is considered auspicious in this context.
- Meal and Togetherness: The rituals conclude with a home-cooked meal, often featuring the brother’s favorite sweets and dishes, symbolizing warmth and love.
Regional Variations of Bhai Dooj
Bihar
In Bihar, the customs are unique and rooted in folklore. Sisters recite light-hearted curses or playful taunts aimed at their brothers and then prick their tongues with a thorn or needle to show repentance. They then seek forgiveness, and the brothers bless them in return. This ritual is symbolic of removing past grudges and starting anew.
West Bengal (Bhai Phonta)
In West Bengal, the festival is known as Bhai Phonta and is celebrated a day or two after Kali Puja. Sisters fast until the ceremony is completed. A tilak made from sandalwood paste, ghee, and kajal (kohl) is applied to the brother’s forehead. A grand feast follows, often including traditional sweets like kheer and coconut laddoos. Participation is usually reserved for siblings above the age of five.
Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Haryana (Bhau Beej / Bhai Beej)
In these states, the festival is commonly referred to as Bhau Beej or Bhai Beej. In Maharashtra and Goa, sisters draw a sacred square on the ground and seat their brothers inside it. The ceremony begins with the brother eating a bitter fruit called Karith, believed to cleanse the soul of bitterness. In Gujarat, tilak and aarti are performed with reverence. In Haryana, sisters without brothers offer their prayers to the Moon God instead. Mehendi application is also common in several communities as part of the celebration.
Nepal (Bhai Tika or Bhaitihar)
In Nepal, the festival is known as Bhai Tika or Bhaitihar and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Tihar festival. It is considered the second-most important festival after Dashain. Sisters apply a seven-colored tika (Saptarangi Tika) on their brothers’ foreheads and perform elaborate rituals to honor Yama, praying for the health and longevity of their brothers. Brothers, in turn, offer blessings and gifts to their sisters. The festival is especially significant among Newari, Maithali, Tharu, Bahun, and Chhetri communities.
Symbolism and Meaning
Bhai Dooj is more than just a ritual—it is a celebration of trust, protection, mutual respect, and familial love. Its roots can be traced to ancient Hindu mythology. According to one popular legend, Yamraj (the god of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. She welcomed him with a tika, aarti, and a meal. Moved by her affection, Yama blessed her and declared that brothers who receive a similar ritual from their sisters on this day would be blessed with long life and prosperity.
Another version links the festival to Lord Krishna and Subhadra, where Subhadra welcomed Krishna after his victory over Narakasura with sweets and tika.
Culinary Traditions
Food plays an important role in the Bhai Dooj celebration. Each region has its own traditional dishes:
- Kheer (rice pudding)
- Shrikhand and Poori
- Basundi
- Coconut Laddoos
- Karith (bitter fruit)
- Kheerni Poori (Haryana)
These dishes often reflect local tastes and seasonal ingredients, and they symbolize prosperity and shared happiness.
Bhai Dooj remains a vibrant and emotionally significant festival that binds families together. While the modes of celebration may evolve, the heart of Bhai Dooj—a sister’s prayer for her brother’s well-being, and a brother’s vow of lifelong support—remains unchanged.
The festival continues to be cherished not just across India, but also among South Asian communities around the world, serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of sibling relationships in every culture.
