Bhai Dooj: The Yama and Yamuna Story and How Siblings Celebrate

Bhai Dooj, the fifth and final day of Diwali, celebrates the relationship between sisters and brothers. It falls on Dwitiya, the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, two days after the main Diwali night.

The legend of Yama and Yamuna

The most popular story involves Yama, the god of death, and his twin sister Yamuna. Yamuna often invited her brother, but his duties kept him away. When he finally visited her on Dwitiya, she welcomed him warmly with a tilak on his forehead, a garland, a lamp and a feast. Moved by her love, Yama declared that any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day would be protected from fear of death. This is why the day is also called Yama Dwitiya.

A different tradition says that Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after defeating Narakasura, and she greeted him with sweets, flowers and lamps.

What happens on the day

• The sister prepares a plate (thali) with rice, kumkum, a lamp, sweets and flowers.
• She applies a tilak to her brother's forehead and prays for his long life and well-being.
• The brother offers a gift or blessing in return and promises to protect her.
• The family shares a meal, often with the sister's own cooking and favourite sweets.

If the brother lives far away, many sisters send the tilak thali or a message, and some families now celebrate over video calls.

Names around India

In Bengal, sisters fast until after applying the tilak, known as a phota, and recite a rhyme wishing protection. In Maharashtra, the brother is welcomed with an aarti.

Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, held in the monsoon month of Shravana, is the better-known sibling festival, centred on a rakhi thread. Bhai Dooj is similar in spirit, but the tilak replaces the thread, and the day closes the Diwali season.

A modern note

Many families now celebrate the day with sisters or brothers of any kind, including cousins and friends who are like siblings. The essence is care, not obligation. After this day, the lamps of Diwali are put away, but the memory of the five days, from Govardhan Puja to this last evening, remains until next year.