In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, devotees celebrated Bhai Dooj by offering prayers and taking a holy dip in the Yamuna River. “Today on Bhai Dooj, we bathed in the Yamuna and prayed for our brother’s long life,” shared Mamta, a local resident.
Bhai Dooj is a festival celebrating the love between brothers and sisters, where sisters pray for their brothers’ happiness and longevity, symbolized by applying a ‘Tika’ on their foreheads. The day is marked by the exchange of gifts and sweets, strengthening sibling bonds.
Known by different names across India, Bhai Dooj is called Bhau Bij or Bhai Beej in North India, Bhai Tika in Maharashtra, and Bhai Phonta in Bengal. In Karnataka and Telangana, it is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya, rooted in the story of Goddess Yamuna welcoming her brother Yamraj to her home on this day. Sisters follow rituals like applying tilak, fasting, and performing puja, while brothers offer gifts and pledge protection in return.
Although similar to Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Dooj differs in that sisters do not tie a Rakhi. This celebration of sibling love and protection is mentioned in many Hindu scriptures, with tales associated with Lord Krishna and Yamraj.