Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between siblings: the sister’s care for the brother and the brother’s promise of protection. This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Thursday, October 23. (AI-generated image via ChatGPT) Bhai Dooj, the last day of the 5-day Diwali festivities, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, also known as Yama Dwitiya, sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being and brothers give gifts to their sisters, marking the festival’s loving conclusion. Bhai Dooj 2025: Date and Muhurat Timing Bhai Dooj falls on the Dwitiya (2nd) Tithi of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the Hindu month of Kartik. For 2025, the tenth begins on October 22 at 20:16 and ends on October 23 at 22:46. The most auspicious window for the tilak ceremony, when sisters apply tilak to their brothers, is during the Aparahna (afternoon) period, which falls between 1:13 PM and 3:28 PM on October 23. Bhai Dooj 2025: Significance Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters: the sister’s care for the brother and the brother’s promise of protection. The tilak ritual symbolizes the sister’s prayers for her brother’s long life, and his blessings/gifts in return. Bhai Dooj 2025: Folklore and Legends Yama (God of Death) and Yamuna (his sister) Yamuna welcomed Yama, applied a tilak, performed aarti and served him sweets. Moved by her devotion, Yama granted that any brother who received his sister’s tilak on this day would not fear death and would enjoy a long life. That is why the day is also called Yama Dwitiya. Krishna & Subhadra After Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, his sister Subhadra welcomed him with a tilak and sweets; this event is linked to the origin of the tilak ritual in Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj 2025: Step-by-step guide of rituals The sister prepares a special puja thali containing a diya (lamp), roli/tilak powder, akshat (rice grains), sweets and coconut. The brother sits (often east or north). Sister applies a tilak on his forehead, performs aarti, prays for his long life and prosperity. The brother gives a gift (such as money, clothes or sweets) to his sister, and in many traditions the sister serves him a meal and treats him with sweets. In some regions, special dishes are prepared, and the day may include visiting each other’s homes and attending family gatherings. If brothers live far away, some sisters perform the ritual symbolically or by phone/video, sometimes worshiping the moon as a proxy.
When is Bhai Dooj? Check date, muhurat timings, meaning and more
