Bhai Dooj festival, observed on last day of the five-days of Diwali festival among the Hindu community across India, this day also marks the second day of the Vikram Samvat New Year, a calendar most commonly followed in northern parts of India. Bhai Dooj, which is also known as Bhai Bij or Bhai Tika, which resembles Rakhi in terms of customary followed during the celebration.
The festival finds its origin based on a popular Hindu mythology legend, in which after assassination of the evil demon Narkasur, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who warmly welcomed him by offering flowers and sweets, also applied tilak of the forehead of her brother.
On the day of festival sister invites brothers for a sumptuous meal which includes his favorite dishes, whole ceremony signifies duty of brother to protect sisters and sister’s blessing for her brother. As a part of ceremony sisters apply red ‘Kumkum Tilak’ on the forehead of her brothers and perform aarti, signifying sincerest prayers of sisters for the happy life of their brothers. In return of sisterly love and care brothers give gifts sisters with cash or valuables.
A day prior to Bhai-Dooj, Goverdhan Pooja is celebrated which is also the first day of Vikaram Samvat Year in Hindu community, in this festival female offers their gratitude towards ‘Ghow Mata’ (Cow). In Hindu community cow is considered as Holy animal, some mythologies also believes that Cow is a mother of Hindu community.
In celebrating ‘Goverdhan Pooja’ female sects offer food to cow, which includes grass or grains before that aarti is performed and Tilak is applied on forehead of Cow.
