Bhai Dooj

What

Bhai Dooj falls two days after Diwali, and involves a sister applying a tilak to her brother's forehead and praying for his long life, while he offers a gift in return — a sibling counterpart to Raksha Bandhan, observed at a different point in the year.

Why

The day's origin story involves Yama, the god of death, visiting his sister Yamuna, who welcomed him with a tilak and a meal — establishing, in the story, a custom where a brother's visit to his sister on this day is said to ward off untimely death.

Preparation

• Prepare a tilak and a small thali for the ceremony
• Plan a meal to share with siblings
• If distance prevents an in-person visit, arrange a call at the same time
• Extend the gesture to close friends who function as family, if you don't have siblings nearby