The festival of Bhai Dooj is a symbol of brother-sister love. This festival is also known by the names Bhai Tika & Yama Dwitiya.
This festival is celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. On this day sisters do tilak to their brothers and wish them happy & long life.
Bhai Dooj is usually celebrated on the second day of Diwali and marks its end. It is called Bhai Tikain in Nepal. In West Bengal, the festival is known as Bhai Phota.
There are two popular legends about the Bhai Dooj celebrations:
Yamaraj and Yamuna
As the legend goes Yamraj, the god of death was the brother of the sacred river Yamuna. On being continuously invited, He visited his sister Yamuna on this particular day.
Overjoyed on seeing his brother Yamuna put the auspicious Tilak on his forehead, garlanded her and prepared special dishes and sweets for him. While parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a token of love and Yamuna too gave him a love gift that she made herself.
Lord Krishna visiting his sister Subhadra, who welcomes him and applies tilak on his forehead, after he slays the demon Narkasur.
