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The essence of Bhai Dooj

Diwali is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals of India. It marks the triumph of good over evil and most importantly, the victory of light over darkness. This is signified through the name Deepavali (Diwali is a shorter name for Deepavali) and lamps are an important element of the festival. Rows of lamps are placed outside each house in India paving for a pleasing view at night. Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights and is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism.

Diwali is celebrated over a 5-day period. The final day of Diwali is known as Bhaidooj. Bhaidooj is the common name for this day but it is known by many names in different parts of India. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is known by the name ‘Bhau Beej’. In Bengal, it is called ‘Bhai Ponta’. It is also known as ‘Bhai Tika’ in Nepal where this is considered to be the second most important festival after Dussehra. This year, Bhaidooj is on November 1st, 2016.

It is the day that celebrates the sacred and loving bond between brothers and sisters. The origins of this auspicious day can be traced to the day that is now known as Naraka Charutdashi. When Lord Krishna defeated the evil demon Narakasura, he paid a visit to his sister Subhadra. Subhadra gave Lord Krishna a warm welcome with sweets and flowers and applied tilak on his forehead with a lot of affection.

On the day of Bhaidooj, the sisters invite their brothers for a meal at their house and after the meal is done, the tilak ceremony is performed where the sisters apply tilak on their brothers forehead. Women who do not have a brother are supposed to worship the Moon. The same is the case for women whose brothers live far away. They pray to the Moon for the long and happy life of their brothers. Due to this ritual, people use the term ‘Chandamama’ which means the moon is the mother’s brother.

Hence, Bhaidooj is an important sacred day that caps off Diwali which is one of the most pompous festivals in India. It is the spirit of righteousness and closeness in family that makes Diwali a festival to behold every year during October and November.

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