Patna: Today marks Bhai Dooj, the final and fifth day of the grand Diwali festival. Celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) of the Hindu month of Kartik, the festival is a powerful cultural celebration of the unwavering love, devotion, and protection shared between brothers and sisters.
Sisters traditionally begin the day with a prayer and perform a ceremony where they apply a sacred tilak to their brothers’ foreheads. This ritual is accompanied by the sharing of sweets and gifts, cementing the bond of mutual well-being and happiness.
Auspicious Timings and Yoga
This year’s observance of Bhai Dooj is considered particularly significant due to the formation of the Ayushmaan Yoga. Experts believe that celebrating the festival under the influence of this yoga is especially beneficial, as it is thought to bestow increased health, longevity, and prosperity upon the individual. The energy generated during this period is also believed to increase vitality and positive energy in the body.
While the second day of the festival officially began late Thursday night and continues through Friday, specific time windows are recommended for the tilak ceremony to maximize auspiciousness:
- Morning Auspicious Time: 6:26 AM to 7:51 AM
- Mid-Day Auspicious Time: 10:39 AM to 1:27 PM
- Evening Auspicious Time: 4:16 PM to 8:52 PM
Sisters planning the ceremony are strongly advised to take note of Rahukaal, which is considered an inauspicious time for any new or religious work. Rahukaal will be observed between 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM, during which the application of tilak should be avoided.
