Bhai Dooj | Bhratri Dwitiya | Yama Dwitiya

Bhai Dooj

On the day of Karthik Shukla Dwitiya, one should perform Chandra-Darshan early morning. If possible, one should go for Yamuna-Snana and take a holy dip in river Yamuna. If not possible, put oil on your body and take a bath at home.

After performing the morning rituals, you should go to your sister's house in the afternoon and honour her with new clothes and money. Stay at your sister's house to partake in the meal prepared for your honour.

If you don't have a sister, then honour your maternal or paternal cousin or your friend's sister by presenting her with clothes and money.

There is an ancient tale regarding this - in ancient times, on the day of Karthik Shukla Dwitiya, Goddess Yamuna invited her brother Yamaraj for a feast at her house. On that day, all the living beings were freed from the tortures of Naraka and were gratified. They were freed from their sins and liberated from material desires. They celebrated a great festival on that day which brought happiness to the Kingdom of Yamaloka. Because of this, that Tithi became famous as Yama-Dwitiya in the entire universe.

Therefore, it is believed that those who honour their married sisters with new clothes and money on this day, never face any misfortune and calamity during the year and their wealth, prosperity, age and respect increase manifold.

In the evening, before lighting Deepak or switching on the lights inside your house, perform Deepdan by lighting a four-wick Deepak outside your house in honour of Yamaraj.