Patna: Bhai Dooj, the festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, will be observed this year on October 23. Falling on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, the third day after Diwali, the festival is marked by sisters applying tilak to their brothers and offering prayers for their long life, while brothers in return bless their sisters.
According to Pandit Prem Sagar Pandey, a local astrologer, the auspicious window for performing Bhai Dooj rituals will be unusually brief this year, lasting only 2 hours and 15 minutes. “The best time for the puja, when brothers should visit their sisters for tilak and festive meals, is from 1:13 pm to 3:28 pm,” he said. “Performing rituals outside this period is believed not to yield the traditional benefits.”
The festival, also known as Yam Dwitiya, commemorates the legendary visit of Yamraj, the god of death, to his sister Yamuna’s home. As per Hindu belief, Yamuna performed the puja, offered food, and applied tilak to her brother, who, pleased, granted that sisters observing the ritual would be blessed with their brothers’ long life and prosperity.
Pandit Pandey outlined the specific muhurta timings for this year’s celebrations:
- Abhijit Muhurta: 11:43 am – 12:28 pm
- Shrestha Muhurta (most auspicious): 1:13 pm – 3:28 pm
- Vijay Muhurta: 1:58 pm – 2:43 pm
- Godhuli Muhurta: 5:43 pm – 6:09 pm
During the festival, sisters traditionally prepare a puja thali containing rice grains, sandalwood paste, roli, a lamp, flowers, and sweets. Brothers are seated facing east, receive tilak, and participate in aarti. Sisters then feed them sweets and pray for their long life, while brothers bless their sisters with gifts, clothes, or money.
“Bhai Dooj, much like Raksha Bandhan, reinforces the sacred promises of protection, respect, and affection between siblings,” Pandit Pandey added.
