In India, festivals are not just celebrations; they are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric, each carrying its own significance, stories, and rituals. Among the many festivals celebrated in India—like Diwali, Chhath Pooja, Dhanteras, and Deepavali—Bhai Dooj holds a special place, focusing on the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. Just like Diwali, the "festival of lights," Bhai Dooj is a festival of love, protection, and togetherness, deeply woven into Indian tradition. The story behind Bhai Dooj adds to its significance, with a tale passed down from generation to generation, symbolizing familial strength and devotion.
The Significance of Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj, which marks the last day of the five-day Diwali celebrations, is a festival where sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers and perform rituals to protect them from evil. Brothers, in return, vow to safeguard their sisters. The story behind Bhai Dooj provides a timeless narrative of love, sacrifice, and devotion, reinforcing the strong bond between siblings.
While sisters typically visit their brothers for the teeka ceremony, in some regions, it is customary for brothers to visit their sisters' homes. This bond is celebrated across the country, from grand cities to small villages, symbolizing the importance of family in Indian culture.
The Story Behind Bhai Dooj
Many years ago, in a small village, there lived a family with just a brother and sister. The sister, being much older, got married when her brother was still a child. Over the years, the brother grew up without seeing his sister, and her image began to fade in his memory. Each year, on Bhai Dooj, he would watch his friends with their sisters, feeling an ache in his heart as he missed his own sibling.
One year, when the brother had grown into a handsome young man, he asked his mother why his sister never came home after her marriage. His mother explained that his sister lived far away, across a dense forest filled with wild animals and a deep, dangerous river. The journey was perilous, so she never visited. Determined to reunite with his sister, the young brother resolved to cross the forest and visit her on Bhai Dooj, despite the risks.
He set off on his journey, facing many challenges along the way. First, he came upon a fast-rising river. Pleading with the river not to drown him, he promised that it could flood him on his return journey, after he had seen his sister. The river agreed and let him pass. Next, a venomous snake appeared. He again promised the snake that it could bite him after his visit to his sister, and the snake allowed him to continue. As he progressed, a mountain began to hurl stones at him, but he pleaded with the mountain to spare him for now, and it complied. Finally, a fierce tiger stood in his way, ready to attack, but the brother pleaded for mercy, and the tiger let him pass.
Upon reaching his sister's house, the reunion was joyous. His sister, overjoyed to see him after so many years, warmly welcomed him. She prepared a feast with kheer, puri, kachori, and other delicious treats. Her husband also joined in, and the couple ensured the brother had a wonderful time. Days of celebration followed, and the brother was filled with happiness.
As the time came to leave, the brother shared the dangers he had faced and told his sister that he believed his time was nearing its end, as he had made promises to the river, snake, mountain, and tiger. Determined not to let her brother perish, the sister devised a plan. She packed meat for the tiger, milk for the snake, silver and gold flowers for the mountain, and roli (vermilion) and rice for the river.
On the return journey, the sister accompanied her brother. When they encountered the tiger, she fed it the meat, and it went away. The mountain, pleased with the offering of silver and gold flowers, stopped throwing stones. The snake, satisfied with the milk, slithered away. And the river, after receiving the roli and rice, calmed down, allowing them to pass safely.
Despite overcoming these challenges, the sister still feared for her brother's life. Along the way, they met an old gypsy woman who predicted that the brother’s life was still in danger unless the sister constantly cursed him until his marriage was complete. Taking this advice to heart, the sister began to insult and berate her brother at every opportunity, much to his confusion.
This continued even as the brother’s wedding was arranged. Throughout the wedding preparations, the sister insisted that all rituals be performed on her before her brother. During the ceremony, she discovered a snake hidden in the sehra (wedding headdress) and removed it before it could harm her brother. She even insisted that the baraat (wedding procession) leave through the back door instead of the beautifully decorated front porch, which later collapsed unexpectedly.
Finally, during the wedding pheras (sacred rounds around the fire), the brother fainted as evil spirits came to claim him. The sister, still cursing him, chased the spirits away with her fierce protection. After the wedding, she revealed the truth to her family, explaining that her bad behavior was the result of the gypsy woman’s prophecy, and she had done everything in her power to save her brother’s life.
The entire village was moved by the sister's selflessness and courage. Her actions ensured her brother’s safety, and she became a symbol of a sister’s eternal love and protection for her brother. From that day on, it became customary for sisters to bring the teeka to their brothers, or for brothers to visit their sisters, as danger may lurk on the road.
Bhai Dooj and the Festival of Lights
Just as Diwali, the festival of lights, illuminates homes and hearts across India, Bhai Dooj brightens the bond between siblings. This festival, like other important Indian celebrations such as Chhath Pooja, Dhanteras, and Deepavali, emphasizes family ties, love, and devotion. Bhai Dooj, in particular, strengthens the relationship between brothers and sisters, as they come together to pray for each other’s well-being and happiness.
From the grand cities to the smallest villages, Bhai Dooj is one of the many famous festivals in India that brings families closer. It is a celebration of familial love, a tradition steeped in stories, rituals, and blessings, marking the end of the Diwali season with joy and unity.
[The images used in this blog post are not owned by Aavyaa, they are just for entertainment purposes]
| DHANTERAS | DEEPAWALI | DIWALI | FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS | CHHATH POOJA | BHAI DOOJ | DEEPAVALI |
~Mimansa Sharma
