Bhai Dooj 2022 – Time, date and puja procedure

Bhai Dooj marks the conclusion of the five-day long Diwali celebrations. The term ‘Bhai’ means ‘brother’ and ‘Dooj’ is the second day after the new moon. Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, brothers visit their sisters with gifts. In return, sisters greet them, apply tilak on their foreheads and pray for their welfare. Bhai Dooj has a long tradition in Indian culture and its significance finds mention in various ancient scriptures of the land.

Bhai Dooj significance

There are two mythological stories connected with this festival to which we also ascribe the origin of Bhai Dooj.

Once Yami longed to see her brother Yama and prayed for his visit. To end the long gap of meeting her sister, Yama dropped in at her house and surprised her with some interesting gifts. An elated Yami reciprocated by applying tilak on his forehead and praying for his long life.

One another story connected to Bhai Dooj is Krishna’s visit to his sister Subhadra’s home on the second day (Dooj) of the bright half of lunar month (Shukla Paksha). Krishna’s visit was a momentous one as he had just then defeated the demon Narakasur. Subhadra invited Krishna and applied tilak on his forehead as a sign of victory. These two mythological stories explain why Bhai Dooj is celebrated the way it is today.

Bhai Dooj 2022 Muhurat timings

In 2022, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Thursday, 27 October. The auspicious time for conducting the Bhai Dooj puja is between 01:12 pm and 03:27 pm.

Bhai Dooj puja procedure

On Bhai Dooj, brothers visit their sisters. During the shubh muhurat time, the sister applies vermilion and tilak on her brother’s forehead. After the tilak ceremony, the sister feeds her brother with some sweets, delicious dishes that he usually loves to eat, and a sumptuous feast.

Gifts are exchanged between them and the sister presents a thali to her brother with a coconut, batashas, mithai, rice and roli. Puja lamps are lit and the light of the lamp is considered as the symbol of the sister’s prayers for her brother that will protect him from all the odds and difficulties of life.

Bhai Dooj Vs Raksha Bandhan

The festivals of Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan have several similarities between them.

On Bhai Dooj, the brother visits his sister. The sister greets him at her house by performing aarti. The sister offers tilak, coconut, and sweets and prays for her brother’s welfare. The event concludes with a special feast for her brother. Gifts are exchanged between them.

On Raksha Bandhan, the sister visits her brother and performs the same kind of aarti as is done during Bhai Dooj. She ties a holy thread on the right wrist of her brother known as Rakhi seeking her brother’s protection, good will and affection throughout her life. The brother gives her gifts.