Happy Bhai Dooj!

Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival which is celebrated two days after Diwali. This year, it falls on November 9. 

Bhai Dooj commemorates the love and bond between a brother and sister. On this auspicious day, sisters invite their brothers home and apply 'teeka', pray to the God and wish for their brothers long and prosperous lives. Brothers present gifts in return.

The festival is very similar to Raksha Bandhan. It is known by different names in various communities of India like in Gujrati, Marathi and Konkani-speaking group of people call it Bhau Beej, Bengalis call it Bhai Phota and Nepali as Bhai Teeka. 

People believe that on this day Yamraj, God of Death, visited his sister Yamuna. She welcomed him with an aarti, applied tilak and offered him, sweets. He was moved by her love and presented his sister a gift that signified his affection and love towards her. Yamraj also declared that any brother who would be offered an 'aarti' and 'tilak' on this day from his sister should never be afraid of death.

Keeping this story in view the festival is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya in few parts of India. 

Another famous story about this festival is that Lord Krishna's sister Subhadra welcomed him with an aarti, tilak, sweets and flowers after he eradicated Narakasur the demon king.