Two days after Diwali, a sister puts a tilak on her brother's forehead and feeds him, praying for his long life, and he gives her a gift, as Yamuna once welcomed her brother Yama.

The Bhavishya Purana, as Kane quotes it, tells that on the second day of Kartika's bright half Yama, lord of death, went to his sister Yamuna's house and she fed him. So the day is called Yama Dwitiya, and a brother should take his meal that day from his sister's hands.

Underhill adds the belief that Yama shuts his house while he visits his sister, so no one who dies on this day goes to his realm. Another story, told in many families, is that Krishna came to his sister Subhadra after killing the demon Narakasura, and she welcomed him with a tilak and an arti.

Sources: P. V. Kane, History of Dharmaśāstra, vol. V, pt. 1 (BORI, 1958), pp. 207–208; M. M. Underhill, The Hindu Religious Year (1921), p. 63; Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism), Bhai Dooj, the legends

Bhai Dooj puja vidhi and samagri

On the second day of Kartika's bright half the brother goes to his sister's home, and in some places they first bathe together in the Yamuna. She seats him, puts a tilak of roli and rice on his forehead, waves the lamp in arti and feeds him the meal she has cooked; in parts of the north he takes a few grains of gram from her hand. He gives her a gift of clothes, money or jewellery as he can. Some families also worship Yama, Yamuna and Chitragupta that day. The Bhavishya Purana, as Kane quotes it, says that as Yamuna fed Yama on this day, a brother should take his meal from his sister's hands.

New Delhi · IST

Bhai Dooj tilak muhurat

13:09–15:19

Tithika’s convention

Sources: P. V. Kane, History of Dharmaśāstra, vol. V, pt. 1 (BORI, 1958), pp. 207–208; W. Crooke, The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, vol. II (1896), p. 296; Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism), Bhai Dooj, the rituals

Why is Bhai Dooj on Wed 11 Nov?

In New Delhi

Bhai Dooj is on Wed 11 Nov: Dwitiya holds all of aparahna that day.

Pratipada until 14:00, inside aparahna; then Dwitiya. Dwitiya: 14:00 to 15:53 Wed.

Dwitiya holds all of aparahna, 13:09–15:19. Dwitiya: 14:00 Tue to 15:53.

One row per day, on one clock (IST). Band: the tithi. Box: Aparahna. Light strip: day; dark strip: night.

The tilak is applied in aparahna, the fourth fifth of the day. Dwitiya runs from 14:00 on Tue 10 Nov to 15:53 on Wed 11 Nov, touching aparahna on both days. The Nirnayasindhu takes the day it holds more of: Wed 11 Nov. No text giving Bhai Dooj’s time was found; aparahna is Tithika’s convention.

The rule

Kartika Shukla Dwitiya

The tilak is applied in aparahna, the fourth fifth of the day.

Smarta: the day whose aparahna Dwitiya holds: Tithika’s convention, since no text gives the time.
Vaishnava: the Smarta day.

Why the cities differ

New Delhi keeps Wed 11 Nov. Dubai keeps Tue 10 Nov.

Time runs down, the same instant across both columns · each city on its own clock · dashed: tithi changes · filled: what each reading keeps

New Delhi · IST

Bhai Dooj is on Wed 11 Nov: Dwitiya holds all of aparahna that day.

Tue 10 Nov. Pratipada until 14:00, inside aparahna; then Dwitiya. Dwitiya: 14:00 to 15:53 Wed.

Wed 11 Nov. Dwitiya holds all of aparahna, 13:09–15:19. Dwitiya: 14:00 Tue to 15:53.

Dubai · UTC+4

Bhai Dooj is on Tue 10 Nov: Dwitiya holds all of aparahna that day.

Tue 10 Nov. Dwitiya holds all of aparahna, 13:08–15:20. Dwitiya: 12:30 to 14:23 Wed.

Wed 11 Nov. Dwitiya holds aparahna only until 14:23; then Tritiya. Dwitiya: 12:30 Tue to 14:23.

Every city’s own page draws its reason.