A Very Happy Bhai Dooj to All.

Wishing Chandamama and all my Brothers here “A Very Happy Bhai Dooj” … sending my heartfelt warm wishes along with the auspicious “Tilak” for happiness and success to all of you … 

** Bhai Dooj, also called as Bhau Beej, Bhai Tika, Yama Dwitiya or Bhai Phonta is a festival similar to Raksha Bandhan wherein the brother and sister bond is celebrated all over the country. The festival signifies prayers offered by sisters for the well-being of their brothers and this auspicious day falls on last day of Diwali celebrations, which is the fifth day. As per Hindu calendar, the day coincides with the second day on the holy month of Kartika Masa, Shukla Paksha. There are many stories as per our ancient mythology about how the festive occasion came about being practiced. One being of Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra and the other of Yamraj (God of death) and his sister Yami also known as Yamuna. 

** It is believed that after killing the demon King Narakasura, when Lord Krishna (Lord of Universe) came back victorious, his sister Subhadra welcomed him with aarti, flower garland, sweet dishes and applied the Victory Tilak on lord’s forehead. She had lit the whole home with beautiful small diyas to welcome her brother just as done during festive times. Since Lord Krishna had visited her without bringing in any gift he asked her to “Wish” for something that he would grant. Subhadra made a beautiful wish that all the brother-sisters should be thankful for generations to come. She insisted that all brothers should remember this day and visit their sister thereby strengthening the bonding between the two. 

** Similarly, the other story spells that when Lord Yamaraj (God of Death) visited his sister Yami after a long lapse of time. Yami was so happy to see her brother after such a long time that she rushed all round her home with happiness making preparation appropriate for welcoming her dear brother home. She welcomed him with a beautiful flower garland woven by her after handpicking each flower herself from her beautiful garden. She applied the auspicious tilak on his forehead and served him a luscious lunch which the siblings relished together, thus strengthening the bond of love between siblings. Out of affection and love towards his sister, it is believed that Lord Yamaraj promised his sister that he would protect all those men who received the auspicious tilak on their forehead from evil events of life. 

** Both incidences are believed to have happened on this particular day ie. on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha of Kartika Masa, thereby starting this beautiful tradition of Bhai Dooj, a prominent festival where the brother promises to stand by his sister in happiness, sorrow, difficult times or when in need and the sister in turn, shows her respect for her brother by welcoming him home by smearing his forehead with the auspicious tilak, seeking his blessings and later serving him sumptuous dishes prepared by her with love. Brothers from all over the country make great effort in trying to reach their sisters home on this day assuring her of their bonding for lifetime. In return sisters wait the whole year round for this particular day to welcome her brother with love and prepares for the event with lots of love too. 

** So then what is the connection of Moon on this Bhai Dooj occasion?? Why is it given importance too by being called “Chanda Mama” meaning uncle moon. In many northern parts of India, this day Moon is also given a lot of respect and a small ceremony is conducted by offering special prayers to moon. Well, it is believed that though the Brothers loved to visit their sisters on this special occasion, those living far away or where duty bound elsewhere could not visit their sisters home which saddened both of them. As they both wanted to celebrate the event meaningfully, they made Moon the mediator between them. Sister performed the arti to Moon and the brother in return glanced at the beautiful full moon wherever he was positioned remembering his sister and sent blessings to her again making the moon as mediator. 

** Then there were some sisters (like me) who did not have a brother, which made them sad that they could not celebrate this lovely festival. Young girl children always looked in envy at their friends who decked themselves and their homes for the celebrations in great style and pomp. In order to please the children it is believed that Hindu parents of girl child asked them to perform the tradition with Moon convincing them that he was their uncle, who would always protect and take care of them. The children dutifully observed the same with strong faith and belief. This is the reason why children affectionately call the moon “Chanda Mama”, here Chanda is Moon (in hindi) and Mama refers to Mother’s Brother (in hindi). Isn’t that a beautiful bonding created between the child and moon which all children lovingly believe to date. 

** We Hindus have lots of festival days round the year and each one always has a significant story woven around it. It is our profound belief/ astHa that makes us celebrate each festival with faith, love and pomp. These small festivals with some meaning to them should always be observed by each one of us so that our future generations learn about the same. By doing so, we are spreading awareness of the strength in between siblings and the love and respect remains intact between us without giving rise to rivalry. Celebrations 5 days of Diwali, always means killing of the evil and victory of the truth and bonding of goodwill between individuals. Stay Blessed- Spread Happiness Always ... Once again “A Very Happy Bhai Dooj to All of You”. 

** Disclaimer : I have adapted and written this short story to the best of my knowledge from net, friends and various other sources. I have read through a lot of articles on this particular incidence of Bhai Dooj and made it into a short story for a good read. I have condensed and written this small article on my own way to the best of my ability. I have also included Google pictures and the picture credits goes to them. My sole intention of writing short stories is apart from the fact that I love writing them, I also want the future generations to know a little bit of the same too. If I have hurt anybody’s sentiments in the process, It is not intentional and in no way meant to offend anybody or any religion. Plz. do excuse me for the same.