The festival of Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhau-Beej and Bhai Phonta in different parts of the country, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The day also marks the culmination of the five-day-long Diwali festivities in several states in the country. This year, the festival is being celebrated today. The name of the festival comes from two words: “Bhai,” which means brother and “Dooj,” meaning the second day after the new moon. On this auspicious day, sisters adorn their brothers with tilak (vermilion) on their foreheads, aarti, and the tying of a protecting thread around their wrists as a symbol of their love and affection.
