The festival preceding Rakshabandhan and most widely celebrated in North India is Bhai Dooj. It brings together brothers and sisters separated by distances and social obligations. The ’tilak’ that the sister applies to her brother’s forehead is considered very auspicious and is the main meaning of the festival besides the gifts and sweets of Bhai Dooj.

The festival is celebrated in the month of October to November, two days after Diwali. Although the date is not fixed, it falls on the night of the new moon and is accurately calculated by pundits. This festival increases the brother-sister bond and is highly revered by Hindus.

There are several stories that support the festival. Yamraj, the god of death, is believed to have visited his sister Yamuna on that day. Yamuna applied the vermilion tilak to her forehead and garlanded it, wishing her well. They exchanged gifts and sweets. Yamraj was so pleased that he announced that anyone who obtains a vermilion tilak on this auspicious day will never be led through the gates of hell. Therefore, Bhai Dooj is also known as Yama Dwitiya.

Another legend highlights that after defeating the demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna went to the house of his sister Subhadra. She welcomed him with aarti (lit diya), flowers and sweets. She then applied the tilak to her forehead. Since then it is believed that on Bhai Dooj day the brother goes to her sister’s house and the ‘vermilion tilak’ is a symbol of love and prayers from a sister to her brother.

The festival is gladly celebrated by all the people who observe Diwali. Puja is performed in the same place where the deities were adorned for Diwali. The sisters apply tilak to the brother’s forehead, perform the aarti and offer sweets. The aarti is accompanied by a beautifully decorated thali containing roli and rice in specific katoris. The thalis are adorned with colored grains, peppercorns, buds, petals, leaves, beads and sequins. Bhai Dooj sweets are also an important part of the thali.

The festival is known as Bhai Phota, Bhatri Ditya, Bhai Tika, Bhathru Dwithiya, and Yama Dwithiya. Celebrations mark a family reunion and are occasions for jubilation. In some parts of the country special cultural events are organized to mark the celebration.

Mithai are also unique to the festival and sweets and other gifts are exchanged as part of the revelry. Shipping Bhai Dooj Sweets to India is now made easy with numerous online marketplaces efficiently serving the needs of the customers. Siblings separated by distances can send gifts to India using online shopping marketplaces.

There are several facets to the world-renowned festival of Diwali. It is celebrated for five days in most of North India and Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the last day. The Puja procedure, the artistically decorated thali, the vibrant colors, the meaning of the ’tilak’ and most importantly the special bond of love between brother and sister make this an incredibly meaningful festival.