BHAI DOOJ TYOHAR KA ARTH, ITIHAS
When is Bhai Dooj in 2022
Bhai Dooj has a special significance in Hinduism. It strengthens the bond of affection between brother and sister. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Falgun. Bhai Dooj is also known as Brother Dwitiya. Holi Bhai Dooj is quite popular in some regions, but this festival is not very famous. This year Holi Bhai Dooj is on 26 October 2022 (Wednesday).
Bhai Dooj - Preface:
Bhai Dooj or Brother Dwitiya is a Hindu festival celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, which is also known as Yama Dwitiya. Bhai Dooj is such a festival that comes three days after Deepawali, which expresses the affection of sister towards brother and sisters wish for the happiness of their brother.
This festival is celebrated with great reverence and mutual love. After Rakshabandhan, Bhai Dooj is the second festival dedicated to the love between brothers and sisters. This year the festival is on 26 October.
Mythological belief of Bhai Dooj festival:
In the earlier times on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, Yamuna had given food to Yamraj with hospitality at his house. On that day the Naraki Jivas (the living beings in hell motion are called Naraki.) got rid of suffering and were satisfied. They were freed from all bondage and they all together celebrated a great festival which was supposed to bring happiness to the kingdom of Yamaloka.
That is why this date was known as Yama Dwitiya in all the three worlds. On the date on which Yamuna fed Yama food at her house, on that date, a person who eats the best food from his sister's hand, gets wealth along with good food. It is said in the Padma Purana that a person who bathes in the Yamuna after worshiping Yama on the second day of Kartik Shukla Paksha does not see Yamlok, that is, he attains salvation.
Important facts related to Bhai Dooj festival:
- Bhai Dooj is celebrated during the Diwali festival throughout the northern part of India. It is also the second day of the Vikrami Samvat New Year, celebrated in northern India, which begins with the lunar month of Kritika. It is widely celebrated by Awadhis in Uttar Pradesh, Bhardutiyas as Maithils in Bihar and people of various other ethnic groups. The first day of this new year is celebrated as Govardhan Puja.
- According to a popular legend in Hindu mythology, after slaying the evil demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna was visited by his sister Subhadra, who warmly welcomed him with sweets and flowers. He also applied tilak affectionately on Krishna's forehead. Some consider it to be the origin of the festival.
- In Nepal, Bhitika is celebrated as the brothers' Bhitihar i.e. Tihar, where it is the most important festival after Dashain (Vijayadashmi/Dussehra). Celebrated on the fifth day of the Tihar festival, it is widely celebrated by the Khasa people.
- In Bengal this festival is known as Bhai Phonta, and it takes place every year on the second day after Kali Puja.
- Bhai Dooj festival is known as Bhaubeej among Marathi, Gujarati and Konkani speaking communities in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.
- Other names include Bhai Dooj in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana such as Bhatru Dwitiya, or Bhateri Ditya or Sister Hasta Bhojanamu.
- Apart from this, on this day in the Kayastha society, their adorable god Chitragupta is worshipped. The Kayasthas worship Chitragupta, who keeps the account of Dharmaraja in heaven, collectively through photographs or idols. They also worship business books on this day.
- Rachel Fell McDermott, Professor of Asian Studies at Columbia University, describes Rabindranath Tagore's rakhi-bandhan ceremony, inspired by the Bhai Dooj ritual, which was held to protest the 1905 partition of Bengal.