Bhai Dooj 2026 is on Wednesday, 11 November. It falls on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, the last day of the five-day Deepotsav, and is also called Yama Dwitiya. Sisters apply a tilak to their brothers, pray for their long life and feed them a meal. By tradition, the tilak is applied in the Aparahna Kaal; see the time for your city below.
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Diwali 2026 dates: Dhanteras 6 November to Bhai Dooj 11 November
| Date | Festival | Time (New Delhi) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 November Friday | Dhanteras | 6:03–7:58 PM Puja muhurat |
| 7 November Saturday, night | Kali Chaudas | 11:39 PM–12:31 AM Nishita Kaal |
| 8 November Sunday, dawn | Narak Chaturdashi | 5:41–6:38 AM Abhyang Snan |
| 8 November Sunday, evening | Diwali | 5:55–7:51 PM Lakshmi Puja |
| 10 November Tuesday | Govardhan Puja | 6:40–8:50 AM Pratahkala |
| 11 November Wednesday | Bhai Dooj | 1:10–3:20 PM Tilak (Aparahna) |
Times for New Delhi, by our calculation (checked against Drik Panchang); your city’s time is on each festival’s page. Amavasya lasts until 12:33 PM on 9 November, so Govardhan Puja is on 10 November.
At a glance
- Tithi
- Kartik Shukla Dwitiya
- Also called
- Yama Dwitiya, Bhratri Dwitiya, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta, Bhai Tika
- Tilak time
- Aparahna Kaal, while Dwitiya tithi lasts
- Main rites
- The sister’s tilak, aarti and meal for her brother
- Story
- Yama eats a meal at the home of his sister Yamuna
- On the same day
- Chitragupta Puja (Kayastha tradition), bath in the Yamuna at Mathura
- Deepotsav
- Last day of the five-day festival
One festival, many names
Among the children of Surya, Yama and Yami are brother and sister, and in tradition Yami is regarded as the river Yamuna. This is why one name of Kartik Shukla Dwitiya is Yama Dwitiya. This festival of love between brothers and sisters is celebrated under different names across India and Nepal.
North India: Bhai Dooj, Bhaiya Dooj
Sisters apply a tilak of roli and akshat to their brothers, perform aarti and feed them a meal; the brother gives his sister a gift.
Folk traditionMaharashtra and Gujarat: Bhau Beej, Bhai Bij
"Beej" is the name for the Dwitiya tithi. Sisters perform aarti for their brothers and feed them a meal.
Folk traditionBengal: Bhai Phonta
Sisters put a phonta (tilak) on their brothers’ foreheads and, in a folk rhyme, wish for thorns to fall at Yama’s door, meaning that death should not threaten the brother.
Folk traditionNepal: Bhai Tika
The fifth and last day of the Tihar festival. Sisters put a coloured tika on their brothers and pray for their long life.
Folk traditionWhy the tilak is done in the Aparahna
In Hindu timekeeping, the day from sunrise to sunset has five parts; the fourth is called Aparahna. Popular panchangs keep Bhai Dooj on the day when Dwitiya tithi prevails during the Aparahna Kaal, and they also give this Aparahna Kaal as the time for the tilak and the meal. Even so, many families do the tilak in the morning; follow your own family tradition.
Chitragupta Puja and the bath in the Yamuna
Chitragupta Puja
In tradition, Chitragupta keeps the record of the deeds of all beings in Yama’s court. On Yama Dwitiya, the Kayastha community worships Chitragupta, and the pen and inkpot are also worshipped.
Kayastha traditionBath in the Yamuna at Mathura
On this day, brothers and sisters bathe together in the Yamuna at Vishram Ghat in Mathura. It is believed that bathing in the Yamuna on Yama Dwitiya removes the fear of Yama.
Folk traditionHow to perform the puja
- Step 1
Preparing the thali
The sister prepares the puja thali: roli or kumkum, akshat, a lamp, sweets and kalava (sacred thread); in many regions, a dried coconut (gola) as well.
- Step 2
A seat for the brother
Seat the brother on an asana or a low stool; in many families, a chowk (a square pattern) is drawn with flour or rice.
- Step 3
Tilak and aarti
In the Aparahna Kaal, apply a tilak of roli and akshat on the brother’s forehead, tie the kalava and perform aarti with the lamp.
- Step 4
The meal
Feed the brother sweets with your own hand and serve him a meal; according to the story, the meal at the sister’s home is the main rite of this festival.
- Step 5
Gifts
The brother gives his sister a gift, and both pray for each other’s happiness and long life.
Yama at Yamuna’s home
According to the popular story, Yamuna, the daughter of Surya, loved her brother Yama dearly and kept inviting him to her home for a meal. Busy with his duties, Yama kept putting it off. At last, on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, he arrived at Yamuna’s home. Yamuna welcomed him, applied a tilak and lovingly served him a meal. Pleased, Yama asked her to choose a boon. Yamuna asked that any brother who goes to his sister’s home on this day and accepts her hospitality should have no fear of Yama. Yama granted the boon; this is why the day came to be called Yama Dwitiya. The story is told in many versions.
Folk vrat kathaRead the full kathaBhai Dooj: relations
See in the knowledge graphDeities, figures and sages 3
- Yama · Deity worshippedFolk tradition
- Yamuna · Deity worshippedFolk tradition
- Chitragupta · Deity worshippedKayastha tradition
Festivals 1
- Diwali · Main festivalTradition
Frequently asked questions
When is Bhai Dooj 2026?
On Wednesday, 11 November.
Is Bhai Dooj on 10 November or 11 November?
On 11 November (Wednesday). Dwitiya tithi runs from 2:01 PM on 10 November to 3:55 PM on 11 November; the whole Aparahna of 11 November (New Delhi 1:10–3:20 PM) falls in Dwitiya, while on 10 November Dwitiya begins during the Aparahna, so only part of that day’s Aparahna has it. Drik Panchang also gives 11 November.
What is the auspicious time for the Bhai Dooj tilak on 11 November?
Traditionally the Aparahna Kaal, while Dwitiya tithi is running. On Wednesday, 11 November 2026: New Delhi 1:10–3:20 PM, Lucknow 12:56–3:07 PM, Jaipur 1:16–3:27 PM, Patna 12:39–2:51 PM, Chandigarh 1:11–3:19 PM, Indore 1:17–3:31 PM, Mumbai 1:30–3:46 PM, Kolkata 12:27–2:41 PM, Bengaluru 1:13–3:32 PM. For your city, choose it in the box above.
Why is Bhai Dooj called Yama Dwitiya?
According to the story, on this tithi Yama went to the home of his sister Yamuna for a meal and granted her a boon.
What is the difference between Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan falls on Shravan Purnima, when a sister ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist. Bhai Dooj falls on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, when a sister applies a tilak to her brother and feeds him a meal.
Why is Chitragupta worshipped on Bhai Dooj?
In tradition, Chitragupta keeps the record of deeds in Yama’s court, so he is worshipped on Yama Dwitiya, especially by the Kayastha community.
When are the five days of Diwali 2026?
Dhanteras on 6 November (Friday), the Narak Chaturdashi abhyang snan at dawn and Diwali in the evening of 8 November (Sunday), Govardhan Puja on 10 November (Tuesday) and Bhai Dooj on 11 November (Wednesday). The Kali Chaudas night puja is on 7 November (Drik Panchang).
Sources
- Vishnu Purana, Book 3, Chapter 2 (the children of Surya: Manu, Yama and Yami)
- Folk tradition and the Yama Dwitiya vrat katha
- Kayastha tradition (Chitragupta Puja)
- Muhurat and moonrise: SanatanBodh panchang calculation, checked against Drik Panchang (New Delhi, 2026–27)
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