Bhai Dooj 2024 Date: Time, Significance, and Celebrations Across India

Bhai Dooj aka Bhai Tikka, is celebrated after 2 days of Deepawali. Bhai Dooj is celebrated all over India under different names with the same significance. Bhai Dooj represents the bond between brother and sister. The festival occurs on the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika month. Bhai dooj's celebrations are very similar to Rakhsha Bandhan's. This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Sunday, 3 November. In this post, we will solve all your doubts regarding Bhai Dooj such as How & why Bhai Dooj is celebrated, Pooja Vidhi (rituals), Shubh Muhurat, Matras, and how Bhai Dooj is celebrated all over India. 

Table of Content

1. Bhai Dooj Overview
2. Date and Time for Bhai Dooj in 2024
3. Difference Between Bhai Dooj and Rakhsha Bandhan
4. Important of Bhai Dooj
5. Why Bhai Dooj is celebrated
6. Stories connected with Bhai Dooj
7. How to do Bhai Dooj Puja

Bhai Dooj Overview

Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, Bhaubeej, Bhai Beej, Bhai Phonta, or Bhratri Dwitiya are celebrated all over India. The word bhai means brother and dooj means the second day after the new moon. This puja is entirely dedicated to the god of death who is the brother of Maa Yamuna. This puja is done by sisters to drive away premature death, negative energy, and bad luck for their brothers. On this day, Sisters pray for the well-being and longevity of their brother. 

Date and Time for Bhai Dooj in 2024

You may be wondering when Bhai Dooj is celebrated, what is the puja timing, etc. Check the details given below regarding Bhai Dooj Celebration:
Bhai Dooj date: 3 November on Sunday
Bhai Dooj Puja Timing: 8:21 PM on 2 November - 10:05 PM on 3 November

Difference Between Bhai Dooj and Rakhsha Bandhan

According to Hindu mythology, Raksha Bandhan is associated with Shri Krishna nicking his finger by the Sudarshan chakra. Princess Draupadi then helped him by taking a piece of cloth from her saree and tying it to his finger to stop the bleeding.
Shri Krishna was very touched by Princess Draupadi's gesture and promised her to protect Princess Draupadi.
However, Bhai Dooj started when Yamraj’s twin sister Yamuna was delighted when his brother visited her after many days of waiting and she welcomed him with tilak on the forehead.
So in a nutshell, In Raksha Bandhan sister ties a sacred thread on her brother's wrist in return for her protection by his brother, and in the Bhai Dooj, the Sister applies tilak on the forehead of her brother to represent the love between them. 

Important of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is a festival for Brother's and sister’s love. The Significance of Bhai Dooj in India differs from state to state. This auspicious day is important for the following reasons:

Celebrating love: Bhai Dooj represents love and bonding between brother and sister.
Giving gifts: To celebrate their love for each other, siblings also exchange sweets and presents.
Auspicious day: This day is celebrated to bring prosperity and longevity in life.
Bringing good fortune: The puja is conducted for protection from evil forces.

Why Bhai Dooj is celebrated?

Bhai Dooj is mainly celebrated to honor the bond between brother and sister. All over India, the name of bhai dooj differs from state to state but the celebrations are the same. In this festival, sisters perform puja and fast from sunrise until the rituals are completed to bring luck and longevity to their brothers. This festival showcases the pure love and devotion of brothers and sisters. 

Why Bhai Dooj is celebrated after Diwali?

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna returned to his sister after defeating the evil. His sister welcomed him with tilak, sweets, and flowers on the second day of Diwali. That’s why this day is specially dedicated to the bond of brother and sister and celebrated as Bhai Dooj after Diwali.

Stories connected with Bhai Dooj

Two Hindu mythological stories are connected with bhai Dooj and this festival is celebrated based on these two stories:

1. Lord Krishna and Subhadra
According to Hindu Scriptures, Lord Krishna defeated the evil demon Narakasura and returned to his sister Subhadra. That’s when Subhadra welcomed him with full joy, flowers, and sweets. She also applied Tilak on Shri Krishna's forehead. Some people believe that this is the start of the Bhai Dooj Festival.
2. Lord Yama and Yamuna
Some people also believe that Bhai Dooj is celebrated when Lord Yama visits his sister after so many days that her sister Yamuna becomes very joyful and welcomes him with sweets, flowers, and a red tilak. By this, Lord Yama was so delighted that he declared that when a sister applies tilak and feeds him on this day will be blessed with a long and happy life. 

How to do Bhai Dooj Puja

In some places, the process can be different but in most places in India, the puja is done in this procedure.
On the auspicious day of Bhai Dooj, sisters invite their brothers for a delicious meal which has many Indian dishes and sweets. When the brothers arrive, the sister performs an arti and applies a red tilak or tikka on her brother’s forehead. Both pray for each other’s long and happy life. After that brothers also bless their sister with gifts or cash.