Renewing Bonds Of Love With Bhai Dooj Gifts

Traditional festivals are a reflection of the culture of a society or community. They are a lesson in the heritage of the community and act as a preserver of traditions and culture. Every society has its own unique traits and customs, and this uniqueness is often echoed in traditional festivals. Bhai Dooj is also one such traditional festival of India which reflects Indian traditions and the value it places on interpersonal relationships and familial ties.

Festivities of Bhai Dooj

The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated in honour of the eternal bond that exists between brothers and sisters. The special relationship has been an object of reverence for ages in many cultures around the world, and in India, it is honoured at the festival of Bhai Dooj. The festivities proceed with multiple traditions and the exchange of bhai dooj gifts among siblings and sometimes other close relatives and family members. A pooja thali is prepared specially for this occasion and it is loaded with tilak essentials along with ‘pujan’ items.

Building stronger bond

The relationship between sisters and brothers is totally unique and special in its foundations and dynamics. The siblings share a sense of camaraderie, which is distinct from any other human relationship and are often protective of one another. Right from childhood, they have spent time and grown up together, which makes them know each other more than anyone else. The bond between the sisters and brothers grows with the years and does not diminish with time. In fact, their love remains strong even after marriages and having separate families. Brothers and sisters’ relationships are one of the strongest bonds between humans, and it is duly honoured on the occasion of Bhai Dooj.

Festival essentials of Bhai Dooj

The festival comes next only to Raksha Bandhan, the most popular festival in the country, dedicated to brothers and sisters. Like most other traditional festivals of India, Bhai Dooj traditions involve certain rituals and festivities which are specific to the culture of the country. Bhai Dooj falls on the last day of the five-day-long Diwali festival and is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. It is popularly celebrated all over the Indian subcontinent with lots of enthusiasm and festivities. The festival is celebrated under different names in different regions, such as Bhai Phota in Bengal and Bhaiya Duj in Northern India. Bhai Dooj is also known as Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Tika in Nepal.

Dissecting the holy ceremony

On Bhai Dooj day, it is the tradition for the sisters to offer prayers and perform a puja ceremony to seek the blessings of the gods for the long life and prosperity of their brothers. After the puja ceremony, the sisters put a tilak or tikka on their foreheads, which symbolise good fortune and safekeeping. The sisters then present a bhaubij gift for brother on occasion. The gift for Bhai Dooj is exceptionally significant as it reflects the love and devotion of the sisters for the brothers and also the renewal of the bonds between them. Traditionally it was only the sisters who presented gifts on occasion but nowadays, the brothers also present gifts for sisters on Bhai Dooj as tokens of appreciation and acceptance of their ties and bonds.