Bhai Dooj 2024, it is an important festival in Hinduism, observed annually on Kartik month’s Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second lunar day). The festival, celebrated by sisters and brothers, symbolizes love, faith, and devotion in their relationship. Sisters apply a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads, praying for their long life, prosperity, and well-being. Brothers, in turn, give their sisters gifts and pledge to protect them. Sisters also pray for the marital longevity of their sister-in-laws .
Date and Timing for Bhai Dooj 2024:
- Tithi Start Date & Time: The Bhai Dooj Tithi begins on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 8:02 PM.
- Tithi End Date & Time: The Tithi ends on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 7:05 PM.
- Based on the “Udaya Tithi” (sunrise), Bhai Dooj will be observed on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Auspicious Timings for Tika Ceremony on November 3, 2024:
- Brahma Muhurta (early morning): 4:51 AM to 5:43 AM.
- Morning Muhurat: 11:38 AM to 11:46 AM (Shobhan Yoga).
- Afternoon timing: 1:01 PM to 3:02 PM.
- Vijaya Muhurta: 1:54 PM to 2:38 PM.
- The ideal time for applying tilak is considered in between 1:01 PM and 3:27 PM.
How to Observe Bhai Dooj 2024 Rituals by Sisters?
- On Bhai Dooj, it’s customary for sisters to observe a fast, refraining from eating until the tilak ceremony with their brothers.
- In some traditions, when brothers visit their sisters’ homes and participate in a meal, it is believed to increase their lifespan, happiness, prosperity, and family harmony.
- Performing these rituals is thought to impart values to children, reinforcing cultural traditions and strengthening family bonds.
- It is also considered auspicious to gift something to their sisters and daughters by their brothers.
How to Set Up the Bhai Dooj Thali
Thali Preparation:
Essential Items for Thali Preparation
- Holy water mixed with Ganga water in a small pot.
- A diya (lamp) with either ghee or sesame oil for the aarti.
- Rice grains (Yellow Akshat), which are crucial for the tilak ceremony.
- Turmeric (haldi) and vermillion (kumkum) for the tilak.
- You can also use chandan (sandalwood) for fragrance.
- Sweets as per tradition and your family’s customs.
- A sacred thread (kalava) to tie on your brother’s wrist.
- Fresh flowers for the aarti.
- A coconut with its husk, which should contain some water inside, is also customary in some traditions.
- Don’t forget to keep a matchbox for lighting the diya.
How to Celebrate Bhai Dooj if you don’t have a Brother?
- For those without a brother, you can consider Lord Krishna (Laddu Gopal) or Lord Ganesha as your symbolic brother and celebrate Bhai Dooj with them, performing all rituals and offerings with devotion.
Step by Step Procedure For Applying Tilak on Bhai Dooj Festival
- Seat your brother facing east.
- Sprinkle a few drops of Ganga water for purification.
- Begin the tilak ritual by applying haldi, kumkum, chandan, Ashtagandha, and Akshat on your brother’s forehead.
- Tie the kalava on his wrist and offer some flowers.
- Perform the aarti with the diya.
- Give your brother sweets and, if tradition calls for it, offer a coconut as well.
- Present your brother with any gifts you have for him, and if you’re the elder sibling, accept a gift in return.
Bhai Dooj 2024: Story & Significance
Once upon a time, there was an old woman who had a son and a daughter. The daughter was married, and on the day of Bhai Dooj, the son told his mother he wanted to visit his sister. His mother, concerned about their poverty, asked what he could give his sister, saying he had nothing to take as a gift. But her son insisted, so his mother allowed him to go.
On his way, he encountered a river, which said, “I will drown you.” The brother replied, “Let me meet my sister first.
As the brother returned home safely, his sister continued her prayers and rituals, hoping for his long life and happiness. She felt a deep sense of joy and fulfillment, knowing she had protected her brother from harm. Days passed, and news of the brother and sister’s devotion spread, reminding everyone of the strength of sibling bonds.
In the village, people came to celebrate Bhai Dooj each year, honouring the loving connection between brothers and sisters. They would share sweets, offer tilak, and pray for each other’s safety. This ritual grew into a beautiful tradition, where sisters prayed for their brothers’ well-being, and brothers promised to protect their sisters.
One day, as a crowd gathered around the sister’s home to hear the story, the brother said, “The love and blessings from our siblings give us strength. My sister’s dedication saved my life, and I am forever grateful.” The sister and brother continued to honour this bond throughout their lives, with each Bhai Dooj celebration serving as a reminder of the love that protected him and the resilience that strengthened them both.