What is 'Bhai Dooj' and how it is celebrated?

What is Bhai Dooj and how it is celebrated?

By Intimate Viewpoint

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Bhai Dooj is an Indian religious festival. It is celebrated after a day of Deepavali. Bhai Dooj is also known as 'Bhai Tika'or 'Bhai Phota'. And it is celebrated in different-different states in a different-different way. But despite all, the main point is that it is a festival of brothers and sisters.

It is as beautiful as other festivals, and is similar to 'Raksha Bandhan'. Bhai Dooj is not just a festival but it demonstrates the love of brothers and sisters. There is one more festival is celebrated among Hindus, and that is 'Godhan'.

Godhan is also a festival of brothers and sisters. But it is not much popular as Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Raksha Bandhan, which is mostly celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand. 

The way of celebration of Godhan in Bihar and Jharkhand 

It is celebrated in a conventional way. No type of Tika or Tilak is applied on the forehead of brothers by the sisters and nothing like Rakhi is tied on the wrist of brothers. There is a different thing is used in this Godhan festival. And the different thing is 'Cow dung' or 'Govar'. I think you all know how much important is cow dung in Hindu scriptures. In many Hindu festivals, the cow dung is used as an important element. 

So, the same is here. There is a kind of shape is made on the floor by the sisters with cow dung and sindoor (some special kind of red color which is applied by the Hindu ladies on their head and forehead after marriage) is also used in it. And 'Akshat' or 'Arwa Chawal' (some special kind of holy rice which is always used in each and every festival except Holi) are also used here. 

The presence of brothers is not important in this festival of Bihar and Jharkhand because the sisters celebrate this special kind of festival for wishing for a long life of brothers. Therefore, the sisters celebrate it in the absence of their brothers. 

The sisters get together at a place and celebrate this festival by doing such things. They abuse their brotherS as a blessing. 

In this way, the Godhan festival is celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand.

The way of celebration of Bhai Tika or Bhai Phota in West Bengal

Although, these days, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated throughout India by almost all Indians whether they are Bihari, Punjabi, Bengali, or other religions. Because it is one of the most important festivals celebrated in India that of brothers and sisters.

But actually, in West Bengal, the Bhai Tika or Bhai Phota is celebrated widely as a festival of brothers and sisters. 

Although, the Bhai Dooj, Bhai Photo, or Bhai Tika are similar in many ways yet Bhai Phota or Bhai Tika is celebrated differently from Bhai Dooj. Bhai Phota or Bhai Tika is also celebrated after a day of Deepavali the same as Bhai Dooj. And both are the festivals of brothers and sisters. 

In this festival, the sisters apply Tikka of Chandan (sandal) on the forehead of brothers and bless them with grains and leaves of grasses. The sisters through them towards the head of the brothers and feed them, sweets.

The younger brothers touch the feet of their elder sisters. And if the brothers are elder then their sisters touch the feet of the elder brothers. The gifts are exchanged among them.

In this way, the Bhai Phota is celebrated in West Bengal. And by all the Bengalis of entire India. 

The importance of Bhai Dooj or Bhai Phota

Not any festival is celebrated for its importance or for any benefits. But the festivals are celebrated for bringing happiness and for enjoying the moments of life. And this is its main advantage also.

All festivals bring happiness to human life. And humans forget all their distress, pain, and problems for some time and get indulged in the festivals.

If there would be no festivals in life then we can't be able to enjoy our lives. Sometimes along with time some relations get fade away and the love, affections, and brotherhood, gradually disappears from the relationship.

So, many festivals help us to reform the relationships again. Bhai Phota or Bhai Tika is a festival that brings brothers and sisters close and builds a new relationship with more love and affection.