The festival of Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the special bond between brothers and sisters, will be observed on November 11 according to Hindu calendar. Also known as Bhaiya Dooj, Bhau Beej and Yama Dwitiya, the festival falls on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. On this occasion, sisters apply tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their long life, good health and prosperity.
The Aparahna period is considered auspicious for performing the traditional tilak ceremony. The Dwitiya Tithi begins at 2:00 PM on November 10 and ends at 3:53 PM on November 11, according to Drik Panchang. Here is everything you need to know about the date, shubh muhurat, tithi and religious significance of Bhai Dooj 2026. Also Read Bhai Dooj 2026 in USA: Date, Muhurats, timings and the spiritual significance of the festival
Since puja timings depend on the local Panchang, you should check the timings for your city before performing the ritual. Sisters perform the tilak ceremony, offer prayers and perform aarti for their brothers. They pray for their happiness, good health and long life. Brothers, in return, express their love by giving gifts and promising to support their sisters. He accepted her invitation and visited her on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. Yamuna welcomed him with a tilak and offered him food. Also Read Did you know about Yama Deepam? The lesser-known Dhanteras ritual and its spiritual meaning Touched by her affection, Yama granted her a boon. He declared that brothers who visit their sisters and receive their blessings on this day would enjoy happiness and prosperity. This belief gave the festival its other name, Yama Dwitiya. She prayed for his well-being and offered him a meal. Pleased by her affection, Yama blessed her and promised protection to those who received their sisters’ blessings on this day.
The Aparahna period will run from 12:27 PM to 2:41 PM. Also Read Panchang Today, November 11, 2026: Shukla Dwitiya under Anuradha Nakshatra As per Drik Panchang, the important tithi details are: Bhai Dooj celebrates the love, trust and affection between brothers and sisters. Because people associate it with Yama, the Hindu god of death, and his sister, Goddess Yamuna, the festival also carries religious significance.
Goddess Yamuna once invited her brother Yama to her home for a meal, according to Hindu mythology. Earlier reporting noted: Legend says Yamuna welcomed her brother into her home and applied a ceremonial tilak to his forehead. The tradition continues today as families come together to celebrate the special relationship between siblings.
Bhai Dooj will fall on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The auspicious Aparahna Muhurat for Bhai Dooj in New Delhi will run from 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM on November 11, according to Drik Panchang. The duration will be 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The festival takes place on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, two days after Diwali. It marks the final day of the five-day Diwali celebrations in many parts of India.
