Bhai Dooj, the last day of the 5-day Diwali festivities, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
On this day, also known as Yama Dwitiya, sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers and brothers give gifts to their sisters, celebrating the loving end of the festival.
Bhai Dooj 2025: Muhurat Date and Timing
Bhai Dooj falls on the Dwitiya (2nd) Tithi of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the Hindu month of Kartik. For 2025, the tithi starts on October 22 at 8:16 PM and ends on October 23 at 10:46 PM.
The most auspicious window for the tilak ceremony, when sisters apply tilak to their brothers, is during the Aparahna (afternoon) period, which falls between 1:13 PM and 3:28 PM on October 23.
Bhai Dooj 2025: Meaning
Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters: a sister’s care for a brother and a brother’s promise of protection.
The tilak ritual symbolizes the sister’s prayers for her brother’s long life and his blessings/gifts in return.
Bhai Dooj 2025: Folklore and Legends
Yama (god of death) and Yamuna (his sister)
Yamuna welcomed Yama, applied tilak, did aarti and served him sweets. Moved by her devotion, Yama granted that any brother who received his sister’s tilak on this day would not fear death and enjoy a long life.
Hence this day is also called Yama Dwitiya.
Krishna and Subhadra
After Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, his sister Subhadra welcomed him with tilak and sweets; this event is associated with the origin of the tilak ritual in Bhai Dooj.
