Bhai Dooj, also called Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Tika or Yama Dwitiya, is a day which showcases the love between a brother and a sister where the sister prays for the long life and wellbeing of her brother.

The words ‘Bhai’ and ‘Dooj’ combine to form the term ‘Bhai Dooj’, where ‘Bhai’ signifies brother and ‘Dooj’ signifies the second day after the new moon. Observed on the second day after Diwali, it is also the final festival of the five day Diwali celebration.

Origin 

Though there are many historical stories associated with the origin of the festival, the two main ones which are considered the most prominent are:

• Yamraj’s visit to his sister Yamuna (Yama Dwitiya)

• Bhagwan Krishna’s visit his to sister Subhadra

Yamraj’s visit to Yamuna

As the story goes, Yamraj went to visit his sister Yamuna on this day. On his arrival, she welcomed him by applying “tika” on his forehead, performing his “aarti” and offering him a feast. This gesture touched him very much, and as the God of Death, he declared that any brother who visits his sister’s house and gets tika applied from her and shares a meal would be blessed with long life and prosperity.

Bhagwan Krishna’s visit to Subhadra

Similar to the story of Yamraj and Yamuna, after Bhagwan Krishna defeated Narkasur and visited his sister Subhadra, she welcomed him with great affection, applying “tika” on his forehead, performing his “aarti” and welcoming him by showering him with flowers and offering him sweets.

These rituals have become symbolic with the tradition of Bhai Dooj, and on this day, when a brother visits his sister, she performs his “aarti”, applies “tika” and feeds him his favourite meal.

Significance of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj, just like Rakhi, is a symbol of the bond shared by brothers and sisters and emphasises the strengthening of familial bonds and cultural traditions. The main difference between them is that in Rakhi, the sister goes to the brother’s house to tie Rakhi, and the brother promises to protect her, whereas in Bhai Dooj, the brother goes to the sister’s house, and she prays for his prosperity, well-being and a long life.

Bhai Dooj Traditions and Keeping up with the New Age

The common traditions of Bhai Dooj include the brother going to his sister’s house, and the sister applying “tika”, doing his “aarti” and feeding him his favourite meals. In some places, the sister fasts until the brother arrives and she applies “tika” to him, whereas in other places, like Maharashtra, the brother has to sit inside a square drawn by the sister on the floor, and there the rituals are performed.

Urban migration is increasing, and changing times make it difficult to celebrate the festival in the traditional way. Hence, adapting and making use of technology is important to maintain the tradition going.

Nowadays, “tika” and “aarti” are performed via video calls, and brothers send gifts to their sister via couriers or other online options, still maintaining the tradition and strengthening the familial bonds, despite the distances. With modern families, which are smaller in size, some celebrate the festival with cousins and adopt siblings also.

The Gift

Bhai Dooj is incomplete unless the brother gives his sister a gift showing his love and affection towards her. But getting the perfect gift is never easy, it requires a lot of thinking, planning and making sure that the gift the brother showcases how thoughtful and caring he is.

Though there is no foolproof guide to finding the perfect gift for your sister, here are some tips on how to select the best gift:

• Know what your sister likes, be it fashion, home decor, technology or anything.
• Make sure that the gift you get is useful to her, either daily or on a regular basis.
• Add a personal touch, like a picture of both of you or a genuinely heartfelt original message.
• Make sure to decide on your budget in advance.

10 Thoughtful gifts that you can give your sister this Bhai Dooj

Keeping the above-mentioned points in mind, you can look at the below options to see what gift best showcases your love and affection towards your sister:

• Ethnic Wear: A beautiful ethnic dress, like a saree, a kurta, or a suit, are examples of traditional gifts and can be worn by her on multiple occasions.
• Jewellery: personalised jewellery is a classic gift with a sentimental touch to it. It can include a bracelet, a ring or a necklace engraved with either her initial or a date of significance.
• Fashion Accessories: Depending on her choice, a designer bag, a sleek traditional wristwatch or a scarf is a thoughtful gift option which can be used on a regular basis.
• Hobby Items: Depending on your sister’s hobbies, you can get her painting supplies or books or knitting material. These items showcase your support for her hobbies, giving it an emotional touch.
• Self-Care Hampers: If your sister likes to do self-care at home, making a basket with wellness products from her favourite brand or other high-quality brands is a very thoughtful gift.
• Tech Accessories: Latest wireless headphones, portable speakers, and fitness tracking smartwatches are some of the examples of what you can gift your tech-savvy sister.
• Home Decor Items: Custom mugs or photo albums of both of you together showcase your bond with each other. You can also gift her an indoor plant like  a bamboo plant.
• A DIY Gift: A gesture of love and care can also come in the form of a DIY gift you create for your sister, which could be a scrapbook of your favourite pictures along with a genuine heartfelt message or a video of your best memories recorded over time.
• Gourmet Treats: A box of chocolates, her favourite dry fruits, or her favourite mithai (which you both can share) is always a good option.
• Gift Cards or Vouchers: Still not able to make up your mind from the above options? Then, the safest option is gifting her a gift card of her favourite brand, be it a clothing or book store or online platform. Or, you can give her tickets for a concert or stage shows depending on what she likes.