Bhai Dooj · Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta, Yama Dwitiya
Sisters put tilak on brothers and pray for their long life.
In 16 days Kartika Shukla DwitiyaTimes for New Delhi (IST)
Date, muhurat and timings
Rule: Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, in the afternoon (aparahna)
Bhai Dooj timings, Wednesday, 11 November 2026, New Delhi
| Dwitiya tithi begins | 2:01 pm (10 Nov) |
|---|---|
| Dwitiya tithi ends | 3:54 pm |
| Aparahna (afternoon) muhurat | 1:09 pm – 3:19 pm |
| Sunrise | 6:40 am |
| Sunset | 5:29 pm |
The time after that: Sunday, 31 October 2027
All times are for New Delhi, computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang. They update themselves daily and roll over to the next date once the festival has passed. Today’s panchang for New Delhi
Bhai Dooj closes the Diwali week with a celebration of brothers and sisters. Sisters apply tilak, perform aarti and feed their brothers; brothers promise their care and give a gift. Here is this year’s date and the afternoon tilak muhurat for your city.
Meaning and story of Bhai Dooj
Yamuna invited her brother Yama, the lord of death, to her home on this day. She welcomed him with tilak, aarti and a meal, and Yama was so moved that he blessed every brother who visits his sister on this day with a long life. That is why the day is also called Yama Dwitiya.
In Bengal it is Bhai Phonta and in Maharashtra Bhau Beej. Families often gather at the sister’s home. Cousins, chosen siblings and friends who are like family join in too.
Puja vidhi, step by step
- Sisters prepare a thali with roli, rice, a lamp, sweets and a coconut or dry fruit.
- Seat the brother facing north or east; cover his head with a cloth or cap if that is your custom.
- Apply tilak, place rice on it, perform aarti and tie a sacred thread in some families.
- Feed him a sweet and a meal; brothers give a gift and their blessings.
- Where possible, do the tilak in the aparahna (afternoon) window shown above.
What you will need
- Roli or kumkum and rice
- Diya
- Sweets and dry fruit
- Coconut
- Kalawa (sacred thread)
- Gift
Do
- Video-call a sibling who is far away and do tilak together.
- Include cousins and chosen siblings.
- Give a thoughtful gift, not an expensive one.
- Cook the brother’s favourite food.
Avoid
- Avoid quarrels and old grievances on the day.
- Don’t let distance stop the ritual; a call counts.
- Avoid wasteful gift wrap.
- Don’t rush the meal.
A small note for each rashi this Bhai Dooj
Gentle, general suggestions for your Moon sign, not predictions. Every sign is welcome at every festival.
- Mesha Aries
Your gift: initiative, comfortable going first. Take the lead in bringing everyone together, and leave space for the quieter ones to speak.
- Vrishabha Taurus
Your gift: patience and staying power. Your steadiness holds the family together; a small thank-you to an elder will mean a lot.
- Mithuna Gemini
Your gift: fast learning and adaptability. Call a sibling or cousin you have not spoken to in a while; a light, funny chat can heal distance.
- Karka Cancer
Your gift: empathy and emotional intelligence. Your care is felt deeply today; make sure to rest as well as look after everyone.
- Simha Leo
Your gift: natural authority and presence. Take the lead in bringing everyone together, and leave space for the quieter ones to speak.
- Kanya Virgo
Your gift: analytical precision. Your steadiness holds the family together; a small thank-you to an elder will mean a lot.
- Tula Libra
Your gift: diplomacy and tact. Call a sibling or cousin you have not spoken to in a while; a light, funny chat can heal distance.
- Vrishchika Scorpio
Your gift: depth and focus. Your care is felt deeply today; make sure to rest as well as look after everyone.
- Dhanu Sagittarius
Your gift: optimism and faith. Take the lead in bringing everyone together, and leave space for the quieter ones to speak.
- Makara Capricorn
Your gift: discipline and patience. Your steadiness holds the family together; a small thank-you to an elder will mean a lot.
- Kumbha Aquarius
Your gift: original, independent thinking. Call a sibling or cousin you have not spoken to in a while; a light, funny chat can heal distance.
- Meena Pisces
Your gift: compassion and kindness. Your care is felt deeply today; make sure to rest as well as look after everyone.
Questions about Bhai Dooj
When is Bhai Dooj?
The next Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026: Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, in the afternoon (aparahna). For New Delhi, aparahna (afternoon) muhurat: 1:09 pm – 3:19 pm. Times change by city; choose yours above.
What if my brother lives in another city?
Do the tilak on a video call at your local muhurat, or offer the tilak to his photo and send sweets. Many families also do it the next time they meet.
Can a sister do tilak for a sister?
Yes. The day celebrates the sibling bond and care for each other. Sisters, cousins and close friends all keep it.
Why is the afternoon preferred?
Tradition places Bhai Dooj on Dwitiya in the aparahna, the fourth fifth of daylight. If that is not possible, any time on the day is fine.
Is Bhai Dooj the same as Raksha Bandhan?
Both honour siblings. On Raksha Bandhan sisters tie rakhi; on Bhai Dooj the focus is tilak, a meal and the story of Yama and Yamuna.
How are these dates worked out?
Every festival is fixed by a rule: the lunar month, the paksha, the tithi, and the part of the day (such as pradosh, madhyahna or nishita) in which that tithi must fall. Our engine finds the next time that happens from the sidereal (Lahiri) Sun and Moon and computes the muhurat from your city’s sunrise and sunset. Dates are checked against Drik Panchang. Where traditions differ, such as Smarta and Vaishnava reckoning, we say so above; your family custom or local priest always comes first.
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