India. A land of diversity, and different cultures, and unique lifestyles. A place where everyone is different, and knows the world differently.
And yet, we are not divided.
Diverse, but unified. Contrasting cultures, in harmony. Unique, but toget...
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मार्कण्डेय महाभाग,सप्तकल्पा जीवितह चिरन्जीवी यथा त्वं,लाथा मे भ्रातारं कुरुः
Bhai dooj, a festival that celebrates the eternal love and celestial bonding of siblings, is observed all over India on the second day after Deepavali, i.e., on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksh in the month of Kartika.
It is known by different names in different regions. In the entire Northern part of India, it is known as Bhai Dooj.In Bengal, people call it as Bhai Phonta, and in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka, it is known by the name of Bhau Beej / Bhai Beej / Bhav Beej. It is called by the name of Bhatru Dviteeya, or Bhatri Ditya or Bhaghini Hastha Bhojanamu in various regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
According to one of the several popular legends, the Lord of death and justice, Yamaraj visited his twin sister Yami or Yamuna on this day. Yamuna became so elated on her brother's visit that she welcomed him with an aarti, applied red tilak on his forehead, and prepared all his favorite delicacies. Yamaraj became so happy with this that he blessed her with a gift that whosoever would visit his sister on this day would become free from the fear of death and hell, and would be blessed with a lifetime of joy and happiness. Ever since that day, Bhai Dooj came into existence. It is also known as Yamadvitiya for this reason.
On this delightful occasion, sisters invite their brothers and give them a warm welcome with aarti and a tilak on their foreheads. They prepare their brothers' favorite dishes and sincerely pray for their well-being, long life, and longevity against all evil and bad fortune. In return, brothers shower them with gifts and pledge to protect their sisters.
All those girls who do not have a brother, pray to the Moon God instead. And all those sisters who are far away and cannot visit their brothers, pray for their well being through the Moon God. It is for this reason that children of Hindu parents affectionately address Moon as 'Chandamama'.
The rituals vary from region to region, but the essence of the festival lies in strengthening the beautiful bond shared between brothers and sisters. It is a day for celebrating the phenomenal understanding and unconditional love between the siblings.
