Sun Nov 03 07:44:04 UTC 2024: ## Bhai Dooj 2024: Sisters Celebrate Brother’s Long Life with Tilak Ceremony

**New Delhi, India:** The five-day Diwali festival concluded today with the celebration of Bhai Dooj, a day dedicated to the special bond between siblings. On this day, sisters perform a traditional “tilak” ceremony on their brothers, wishing them long life and prosperity. Brothers, in turn, visit their sisters’ homes for a celebratory meal.

The auspicious time for the tilak ceremony this year was between 1:10 PM and 3:22 PM, according to the Hindu calendar. After this window, the inauspicious Rahu Kaal begins.

The traditional “tilak” tray includes items like vermillion, flowers, rice grains, betel nuts, betel leaves, a silver coin, coconut, garlands, sweets, a sacred thread, sacred grass, and a banana. These elements are considered essential for a complete Bhai Dooj celebration.

During the ceremony, sisters prepare a special tray with kumkum, vermillion, sandalwood, fruits, flowers, sweets, and betel nuts. They draw a square with rice on the floor and seat their brother within it. In the auspicious time window, they perform the “tilak” ritual. The ceremony involves applying tilak, offering flowers, betel leaves, sweets, and black chickpeas, and lighting a lamp for their brother’s well-being. Following the ceremony, brothers offer gifts to their sisters and promise to protect them always.

**Precautions for a Blessed Bhai Dooj**

Sisters should abstain from consuming any food or drink after performing the tilak ceremony, as it is considered inauspicious. They must also be mindful of the auspicious time window and avoid performing the ritual during Rahu Kaal. Lastly, it is crucial to maintain harmony and avoid arguments or disagreements on this sacred day.

**Honoring Yamraj on Bhai Dooj**

On the evening of Bhai Dooj, a ritual dedicated to Yamraj, the god of death, is performed. A clay pot filled with water is placed on the left side of the house, and a four-faced lamp is lit with mustard oil. This is done to seek blessings for the long life and good health of everyone in the household. The next morning, the water from the pot is sprinkled in every corner of the house.

The legend of Bhai Dooj stems from a story where Yamuna, the river goddess, observed a fast for her brother Yamraj, the god of death, and offered him a feast of delicacies. As a token of gratitude, Yamraj bestowed a special blessing on his sister. He declared that if brothers and sisters bathed together in the river Yamuna on this day, they would attain liberation.

This tradition of bathing together in the Yamuna River has gained immense significance. Furthermore, Yamraj instructed his sister that on this day, every brother should visit their sister’s home, thereby establishing the practice of celebrating Bhai Dooj as we know it today. On this day, sisters also observe a fast to appease Yamraj.

Read More