The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated today in many parts of the country. On this day sisters apply tilak on their brothers. She welcomes him and wishes him a long life. Everyone knows about the tradition of applying Tilak on brother's forehead on the day of Bhai Dooj, many other people can also participate in this festival. The holy festival of Bhai Dooj is a festival of love and respect. Therefore, you can apply sandalwood tilak on the forehead of any member of your family towards whom you have great affection. For example, in many families there is a custom of applying tilak on the forehead of brother as well as nephew. Apart from brothers and nephews, women can also vaccinate the youngest members of the family. If you wish, you can also apply tilak to your brother's dear friend on Bhai Dooj. On this day, at many places, Tilak is also applied on the forehead of Lord Ganesha. By doing this, women get the blessing of happiness and prosperity from them. After applying tilak to Ganesha, coconut and sweets are offered like brothers.
This is not a festival but a feeling which preserves the love between brother and sister forever through a raw silk thread. The festival of Raksha Bandhan is one of the major festivals of Hindu religion, which is celebrated with pomp and joy across the country. This festival reflects the unbreakable bond, love, sacrifice and dedication between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie Rakhi or Raksha Sutra on their brother's wrist and pray for his long life and prosperity. At the same time, brothers promise to always protect their beloved sister by giving her a gift or gift in return. They promise to always protect this sister by giving her a gift or gift in return. It is the specialty of this festival that not only Hindus but also people of other religions celebrate this festival with full enthusiasm.
Both the festivals of Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan are festivals related to brother-sister relationships. While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Kartik Shukla Paksha. Bhai Dooj is the last day of the five-day festival of Diwali.
Major differences between Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj:
1. The festival of Bhai Dooj was started due to Yamraj, that is why it is also called Yam Dwitiya, whereas Raksha Bandhan was started due to King Bali, Indra and Lord Shri Krishna.
2. Sisters have special importance on the day of Raksha Bandhan. During Raksha Bandhan, sisters go to their brother's house and tie Rakhi and the brother gives them a gift, whereas on the day of Dooj, the brother goes to the sister's house and gets him tika and the sisters apply tilak to him and perform aarti and feed him food.
3. Raksha Bandhan is called Rakshika or Raksha Sutra Bandhan in Sanskrit while Bhai Dooj is called Bhagini Hasta Bhojana in Sanskrit.
4. Raksha Bandhan is a form of the tradition of tying 'Raksha Sutra' Mauli or Kalava. In the modern era, different types of Rakhis have come with which the tradition of this festival is followed, whereas this is not the case in Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj is not a festival derived from any other tradition, rather this festival is celebrated as a result of the blessings and promise given by Yama to Yamuna.
5. Raksha Bandhan is also called the festival of Rakhi and is often celebrated in a different form in South India by the name of Coconut Purnima, whereas Bhai Dooj has different names in other states, but this festival is associated with brothers and sisters. It is known by this other name as Bhai Dooj in Saudara Bidige (Karnataka), Bhai Phota (Bengal). In Maharashtra it is called Bhau Beej, in Gujarat it is called Bhau or Bhai-Beej and in most of the provinces it is called Bhai Dooj. Outside India, in Nepal it is called Bhai Tika. In Mithila it is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya.
6. On Raksha Bandhan, there is a tradition of listening to the story of Maharaja Bali, while on Bhai Dooj, there is a tradition of listening to the story of Yama and Yamuna. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie Rakhi to their brothers, whereas on Bhai Dooj, only Tilak is applied.
7. On Raksha Bandhan, there is a tradition of feeding sweets, while on Bhai Dooj, there is a tradition of feeding paan to the brother after the meal. It is believed that by offering paan, the sisters remain blessed with unbroken good fortune.
8. Yamrajji does not give the torture of Yamalok to those brothers and sisters who take bath in Yamunaji on Bhai Dooj. On this day, the god of death Yamraj and his sister Yamuna are worshipped, whereas this does not happen on Raksha Bandhan.
9. Bhai Dooj is a popular festival which is celebrated all over India whereas Raksha Bandhan is popular only in some provinces because in some provinces Shravan Purnima is not celebrated by associating brothers and sisters.
