Bhai Dooj 2027भाई दूज
Bhai Dooj 2027 is on Sunday, October 31, 2027, the last of the five days of Diwali. The katha of Yama and Yamuna, the tilak, the aparahna muhurat and how Bhai Phota and Bhau Beej are kept.
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The story of Bhai Dooj
Yamuna and Yama were the children of Surya, and after she married they were long apart. She asked him again and again to come, and at last, on the Dwitiya of the bright fortnight of Kartika, Yama came to his sister’s house. She bathed his feet, put the tilak on his forehead, fed him with her own hands and would take nothing for herself. Yama, who takes from everyone, asked what she wanted; she asked only that he come each year, and that whoever is honoured by a sister on this day should have no fear of him. He granted it, and that is Bhai Dooj, Yama Dwitiya.
A second katha belongs to Krishna: returning to Dwarka after ending Narakasura, he went first to his sister Subhadra, who welcomed him with a lamp, flowers and a tilak. The festival closes the five days of Diwali on this note, that after the lamps and the wealth and the feasting, the last day belongs to the bond that asks for nothing.
How Bhai Dooj is celebrated
| Tilak | the sister applies roli and akshat, does aarti and prays for her brother’s long life. |
| Bhojan | the brother is fed at the sister’s house, traditionally food she has cooked herself. |
| Gift | the brother gives a gift and the promise to stand by her, and blesses her in return. |
| Yamuna snan | where families are able, a dip in the Yamuna with a sister is held especially auspicious on this day. |
It is Bhai Phota in Bengal with a sandal paste tilak and a long fast kept by the sister until it is done; Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Gujarat, where the sister draws a square on the floor for her brother to sit in; and Bhai Tika in Nepal with a seven coloured tilak.
Bhai Dooj checklist: what to arrange in advance
The non-perishable samagri you can order ahead of the day. Each link opens an Amazon search for that item in your own country’s store.
Fresh items, flowers, fruit, sweets and leaves, are best bought from your local market on the day.
As an Amazon Associate, Bhakti Angan earns from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bhai Dooj in 2027?
Bhai Dooj is on Sunday, October 31, 2027, the last of the five days of Diwali, which began with Lakshmi Puja on October 29, 2027.
What is the tilak muhurat?
The tilak is usually done in the aparahna window, the afternoon. The exact timing depends on your city, so check the daily Panchang for your local window.
How is Bhai Dooj different from Raksha Bandhan?
On Raksha Bandhan the sister ties a thread and the brother promises protection. On Bhai Dooj the brother comes to her house, she feeds him and prays for his life; the older katha is of Yama and Yamuna rather than of a thread.
What if a sister has no brother, or a brother no sister?
Cousins and close friends keep it just as fully, and where there is no brother the tilak is offered to Chandra, the moon, who is called brother in the same way.
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Dates are verified against authoritative Panchang sources (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Traditions vary by family and region; for muhurat and puja vidhi please also consult your family panditji.