Autumn festival · Yama and Yamuna

Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya)

The last day of Diwali, when sisters apply a tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life, as Yamuna once did for Yama.

Bhai Dooj, also called Yama Dwitiya, falls on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the second day of the bright fortnight, two days after Diwali. It closes the five-day Diwali festival. Sisters apply a tilak (sacred mark) to their brothers' foreheads, perform aarti and feed them, praying for their long life, in memory of Yamuna (the river goddess) welcoming her brother Yama (god of death and dharma).

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Bhai Dooj

Date: Wed, 11 Nov, 2026
Tithi: Kartika Shukla Dwitiya
Bhai Dooj Tilak: 01:09 PM – 03:19 PM
Deity: Yama and Yamuna

Times for New Delhi. Change the city below.

When to do the puja

Bhai Dooj muhurat and timings

Timings for New Delhi, Delhi

Date

Wed, 11 Nov, 2026

Tithi at sunrise

Dwitiya (Shukla)

Sunrise

06:40 AM

Sunset

05:29 PM

Best time for Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj Tilak: Aparahna

01:09 PM – 03:19 PM

Duration 2 h 10 min

Tithi, nakshatra and key moments

Amrit Kaal
04:32 AM, 12 Nov – 06:19 AM, 12 Nov

Inauspicious times: avoid starting the puja

Yamaganda
08:01 AM – 09:22 AM
Gulika Kaal
10:43 AM – 12:05 PM
Rahu Kaal
12:05 PM – 01:26 PM
Varjyam
05:51 PM – 07:38 PM

Choghadiya for the day and night

Day

Labh06:40 AM – 08:01 AM
Amrit08:01 AM – 09:22 AM
Kaal09:22 AM – 10:43 AM
Shubh10:43 AM – 12:05 PM
Rog12:05 PM – 01:26 PM
Udveg01:26 PM – 02:47 PM
Chal02:47 PM – 04:08 PM
Labh04:08 PM – 05:29 PM

Night

Udveg05:29 PM – 07:08 PM
Shubh07:08 PM – 08:47 PM
Amrit08:47 PM – 10:26 PM
Chal10:26 PM – 12:05 AM, 12 Nov
Rog12:05 AM, 12 Nov – 01:44 AM, 12 Nov
Kaal01:44 AM, 12 Nov – 03:23 AM, 12 Nov
Labh03:23 AM, 12 Nov – 05:02 AM, 12 Nov
Udveg05:02 AM, 12 Nov – 06:41 AM, 12 Nov

Calculated for New Delhi, Delhi, India (sidereal Lahiri, local sunrise). Regional and family traditions can differ by a day or in the exact window; follow your family priest where they differ.

Meaning

Significance of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Where Raksha Bandhan centres on the brother's promise of protection, Bhai Dooj centres on the sister's prayer for her brother's long life and well-being, and on the brother visiting her home.

The name Yama Dwitiya links the day to Yama and his sister Yamuna. The tradition holds that a brother who receives tilak and a meal from his sister on this day is blessed with long life. It is an expression of love and hope, not a guarantee.

The day also brings married daughters and their brothers together after the busy Diwali days. In many families, brothers travel to their sisters' homes, so the day renews family ties across distances.

The story

Yama and Yamuna were the children of Surya (the Sun) and Sanjna. After they grew up and went their separate ways, Yamuna invited her brother many times to visit her, but Yama, busy with his duties, could not come. At last, on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, he arrived at her home.

Overjoyed, Yamuna welcomed him with an aarti, applied a tilak to his forehead and served him a meal she had cooked herself. Touched by her love, Yama offered her a boon. She asked that every year on this day he visit her, and that any brother who receives tilak and a meal from his sister on this day be blessed with long life. Yama granted the wish, and the day has been observed ever since.

One festival, many traditions

How Bhai Dooj is celebrated across India

North India (Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh)

Known as Bhai Dooj

Sisters prepare a plate with roli (red powder), rice, a lamp, sweets and a dry coconut, apply a tilak to the brother's forehead, tie a sacred thread (kalava) on his wrist and perform aarti. Brothers give gifts and stay for a meal. In Kayastha families, the same day is observed as Chitragupta Puja, when pens, ink and account books are worshipped.

Why it matters there: The tilak and the shared meal recreate Yamuna's welcome of Yama and are a prayer for the brother's long life.

Braj (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh)

Known as Yama Dwitiya

Brothers and sisters come to Mathura to bathe together in the Yamuna at Vishram Ghat, holding hands, before the tilak ceremony. Prayers are offered to Yama and Yamuna on the riverbank.

Why it matters there: Bathing in the Yamuna with one's sibling on this day is believed to honour Yamuna's love for her brother at the river's own sacred place.

Maharashtra and Goa

Known as Bhau Beej

The brother sits on a low wooden seat (paat) surrounded by rangoli, and the sister performs aarti (aukshan), applies a tilak and offers sweets. Brothers give gifts in return. In some families, a woman who has no brother worships the Moon (Chandra) as her brother on this day.

Why it matters there: Bhau Beej closes the Diwali season and strengthens the sibling bond; worshipping the Moon ensures no sister is left out.

Gujarat

Known as Bhai Bij

Coming just after the Gujarati New Year, brothers visit their sisters' homes, receive a tilak and aarti, and share a festive meal. Gifts are exchanged and greetings for the new year continue.

Why it matters there: The visit is a way for brothers to honour their sisters at the start of the new year.

East India (West Bengal, Tripura)

Known as Bhai Phonta

Sisters often fast until the ceremony, then apply a mark (phonta) of sandalwood paste, kajal and curd with the little finger on the brother's forehead while reciting a traditional rhyme that asks Yama to keep him safe. Elder sisters bless with paddy and durva grass, and a lavish meal and sweets follow.

Why it matters there: The rhyme symbolically places a barrier at Yama's door, expressing the sister's wish that her brother live long.

Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills (Nepali-speaking communities)

Known as Bhai Tika

On the final day of Tihar, sisters apply a multi-coloured tika (often seven colours) to their brothers' foreheads, place garlands of globe amaranth (makhamali) flowers around their necks and offer special foods and dry fruits. Brothers give gifts and in turn apply tika to their sisters.

Why it matters there: The long-lasting makhamali flower and the colourful tika express the wish that the brother's life be long and bright.

Step by step

Bhai Dooj puja vidhi

1
Brothers and sisters bathe in the morning and wear clean or new clothes. If the brother is visiting, he travels to his sister's home for the ceremony.
2
The sister prepares a plate (thali) with roli or kumkum, rice (akshat), a ghee lamp, sweets, a dry coconut (gola), a sacred thread (kalava) and a few flowers.
3
Draw a small square (chowk) of rice flour or rangoli on the floor and place a low seat on it for the brother.
4
Some families first worship Yama, Yamuna and Chitragupta with a lamp, flowers and a prayer, using pictures or simple drawings.
5
Perform the main ceremony during the Aparahna (tilak) Muhurat shown above. The brother sits on the seat, usually facing east or north as per family custom, and covers his head with a cloth or cap if that is your custom.
6
The sister applies a tilak of roli and rice to the brother's forehead, ties the kalava on his right wrist and places the dry coconut and a sweet in his hands.
7
She performs aarti with the lamp, circling it before him, and prays for his long life, health and happiness.
8
She feeds him a sweet, and the brother then gives his sister a gift and his blessings or respects, depending on who is elder.
9
The brother shares a meal cooked by his sister, as Yama did at Yamuna's home.
10
If the brother and sister cannot meet, the sister can perform the prayer and aarti before a picture of her brother or on a video call, and the tilak can be applied on their next meeting.

Om Yamaya Namah

Salutations to Yama, lord of dharma. A prayer for the long life and safety of one's brother.

Om Yamunayai Namah

Salutations to Yamuna, the river goddess, who first honoured her brother on this day. A prayer for the sibling bond.

What you need

Puja samagri (items)

Roli or kumkum for the tilak
Rice (akshat)
Ghee lamp (diya) and matches
Sweets such as laddoo or barfi
Dry coconut (gola)
Sacred thread (kalava or mauli)
Flowers
Rice flour or rangoli powder for the chowk
Low wooden seat (patla or paat)
Cloth or cap to cover the brother's head (where customary)
Betel leaf and betel nut (optional)
Sandalwood paste, kajal and curd (for Bhai Phonta)
Durva grass and paddy (for Bengali blessings)
Gift from brother to sister
Aarti plate

Fasting

Bhai Dooj vrat rules

Fasting is optional and is kept by some sisters, most commonly in Bengal and parts of North India.
The sister fasts from the morning until she has applied the tilak to her brother, usually taking only water.
The fast is broken after the ceremony, often by sharing the festive meal with the brother.
Pregnant women, elders and anyone with a health condition need not fast; the tilak and prayer are the heart of the day.

Do's and don'ts

What to do, and what to avoid

Do

Apply the tilak during the Aparahna (tilak) Muhurat shown above.
Brothers should make the effort to visit their sisters' homes and share a meal there.
Exchange gifts that are thoughtful and within your means.
Include cousins and those who have no brother or sister, so no one is left out.
If you cannot meet, call or video-call and do the prayer together.
Take blessings from elders in the family.

Avoid (inauspicious)

Do not perform the tilak during Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda or Gulika shown on the page.
Do not quarrel or speak harshly with siblings on this day; it is a day to mend, not to argue.
Do not treat the gift as the purpose of the day or compare gifts.
Avoid meat, alcohol and tobacco on the day, as many families do.
Do not use a chipped lamp or broken plate for the aarti.
Do not fast if your health does not allow it; the tradition does not require it.

Common questions

Bhai Dooj FAQs

What is the best time for the Bhai Dooj tilak?

The Aparahna (tilak) Muhurat shown above, which falls in the afternoon, is traditionally preferred because the story of Yama's visit is associated with that part of the day. The muhurat varies by city. If it is not possible then, perform the tilak at another convenient time during the day.

What is the difference between Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan?

On Raksha Bandhan, the sister ties a rakhi and the brother promises to protect her. On Bhai Dooj, the sister applies a tilak and prays for her brother's long life, and the brother visits her home for a meal. Both celebrate the sibling bond.

What if a sister has no brother, or a brother has no sister?

Cousins or close family friends often take part in each other's ceremony. In Maharashtra, some women without a brother worship the Moon (Chandra) as their brother. A brother without a sister may receive the tilak from a cousin or simply pray to Yamuna.

Why is Bhai Dooj also called Yama Dwitiya?

Because it is the dwitiya (second day) on which Yama visited his sister Yamuna. Yamuna's tilak and meal for Yama are the model for the day's ritual, and Yama's blessing is what the tradition invokes.

Can Bhai Dooj be done over a video call?

Yes. Many sisters perform the aarti and prayer at the muhurat while on a call with their brother, and apply the tilak when they next meet. The love and prayer are what the tradition values.

Is Chitragupta Puja on the same day?

Yes. Kayastha families worship Chitragupta, the keeper of records in Yama's court, on Yama Dwitiya. They honour pens, ink and account books, and many pause writing work until the puja is done.