According to English calendar in the month of November and according to Hindu calendar, this festival is celebrated during Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. It is called ‘Yama Dwitiya’ or ‘Bhaiya Dooj’ This festival is celebrated by sisters for their brothers. On this day, sisters perform Beri Poojan also and pray for longevity, affluence and prosperity for their brothers.
Bhaiya Dooj symbolises the love between brothers and sisters. On this day brothers must take bath in Yamunaji after rubbing oil all over the body, must have tilak on forehead and is extremely fruitful to have food at sister's place. On this day sister after feeding brother, put tilak and gives away Gola (dried coconut) and pray for his longevity. The brother after food etc. gives gifts to the sister.
The tale behind this festival is - The name of the wife of God sun was Chaaya. They had two children - son Yamraj and daughter Yamuna. Yamuna used to love her brother Yamraj too much. She always requested him to have food at her place but due to preoccupied in his own business he gave her deaf ear.
The second day of Kartik Sukla approached. Yamuna, by inviting Yamraj to have food at her place bound him with oath. While coming to sisters house Yamraj set free all living in hell.
Seeing the brother Yamuna became very happy and after welcoming him, fed him, with love. With this Yamraj became extremely happy and told her to ask for a wish. Yamuna said, “Oh brother, you come every year to take food at my place and on this day all the brothers who get tilak on their forehead with all respect, by their sister should be free from your fear.” The Yamaraj granted the wish and departed to Yamlok.
Since then it is a tradition that all the brothers who after taking bath in Yamuna accept the invitation from her sister with full devotion, remain free from the fear of Yamraj Therefore on Bhaiya Dooj Yamraj and Yamuna are worshiped.
|
