Bhai Dooj (Bhai Bij) 2038

Bhai Bij falls during the Diwali festivities on the second day of the bright half of Kartika. Brothers and sisters meet, share a meal and wish each other well. The day is also called Yama Dwitiya, after this story of Yama and his sister Yamuna.

Yama, the son of the Sun, looked after the affairs of his realm. His sister Yamuna wanted him to come to her home and share a meal with her. She would visit him and say, “Brother, come to my house for a meal one day, and bring your attendants with you.”

Yama was pleased by the invitation, but his duties left him little time. He would say he would come today or tomorrow, but the visit kept getting put off. Yamuna kept inviting him. On the second day of the bright half of Kartika, she asked him again. This time Yama decided to come.

Before leaving to see his sister, Yama released those who were undergoing punishment in his realm. Then he went to Yamuna’s house with his attendants. Yamuna was delighted to see her brother at her door. She welcomed him and the people who had come with him.

Yamuna applied oil and a fragrant paste to her brother and bathed him. She gave him fine clothes, ornaments, sandalwood paste and a garland, and offered him a seat. She had prepared many dishes. She served them in golden vessels and gave her brother his meal.

After the meal, Yama honoured his sister in return and gave her clothes and ornaments. Moved by her affection, he asked, “Sister, what would you like? If there is anything you wish for, tell me.”

Yamuna first asked him to come to her home for a meal on this day every year. Then she thought of those he had released from his realm and asked that they be set free on this day each year as well. Finally, she asked that brothers who ate a meal served by their sisters on this day should live happily. These were her three wishes.

Yama listened and gave his blessing. In the story, he said that those who bathed in the Yamuna, offered water to the gods and ancestors, and honoured their sister by eating at her home that day would be spared the gates of his realm. He also said that prisoners should be allowed to visit their sisters for a meal on this day. The story mentions accepting an invitation from another woman in the family or someone regarded as a sister when a person has no sister of their own.

Yama then returned to his city, Samyamani. The day on which Yamuna welcomed her brother with a meal and wished for the happiness of other brothers and sisters was remembered as Yama Dwitiya. The Bhai Bij custom of eating at a sister’s home is associated with that visit.

Bhai Bij is a day for siblings to meet and show affection. Yamuna’s wishes took into account the happiness of other brothers and sisters as well as her own. Sharing a meal reflects that spirit.

In many families the sister puts a tilak on her brother’s forehead, greets him with a lamp in an aarti and serves him a meal. The brother gives her a gift, and both wish each other well. The way they apply the tilak and share the meal varies by household. Families look to the local calendar and their own tradition for the time.

The festival is called Bhai Bij in Gujarat, Bhai Dooj in northern India, Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Phonta in Bengal. At Vishram Ghat in Mathura, brothers and sisters traditionally bathe together in the Yamuna. In Nepal, Bhai Tika is celebrated during Tihar. Each place has its own customs.