Bhai Dooj Gifts: Hindu Culture & Tradition

Bhai Dooj Gifts emotes the feelings of a brother, expresses the gratitude for sharing such a wonderful relationship, reflects all the love shared and fills the heart of a sister with unmatched happiness. Such gifts are selected that are the expressions of good wishes prayers of love and more. But it is not just brothers who are busy choosing gifts for the auspicious day of Bhai Dooj. Sisters are equally enthusiastic about the return gift that they have to shower on their brothers. These return gifts symbolizes the appreciation of a sister towards the love and care shown by their brothers. The warmth of these gifts are felt until next Bhai dooj knocks at the door.

Bhai Dooj: Regional Names

The festival is known as:

• Bhai Dooj in entire Northern part of India, observed during the Diwali festival. This is also the second day of the Vikrami Samvat New Year, the calendar followed in Northern India (including Kashmir), which starts from the lunar month of Kartika. It is widely celebrated by Awadhis in Uttar Pradesh, Maithils in Bihar and people from various other ethnic groups. The first day of this New Year is observed as Govardhan Puja.
• Bhai Tika in Nepal, where it is the most important festival after Dashain (Vijaya Dashmi / Dussehra). Observed on the fifth day of Tihar festival, it is widely celebrated by the Khas people.
• Bhai Phonta in Bengal and it takes place every year on the second day after Kali Puja.
• Bhai Bij, Bhau Beej, or Bhav Bij amongst the Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani-speaking communities in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
• Another name for the day is Yamadwitheya or Yamadvitiya, after a legendary meeting between Yama the god of Death and his sister Yamuna (the famous river) on Dwitheya (the second day after new moon).
• Other names include Bhatru Dviteeya, or Bhatri Ditya.

According to a popular legend in Hindu mythology, after slaying the evil demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers. She also affectionately applied tilaka on Krishna’s forehead. Some believe this to be the origin of the festival.