On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, a day dedicated to celebrating the unique bond between brothers and sisters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed warm wishes to the nation on November 15, 2023, through the social media platform X.
PM Modi shared in a Hindi post on X, “It is a festival symbolizing the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. My heartfelt wishes to all family members across the country on this auspicious occasion.”
Amit Shah expressed his greetings in a Hindi post on X, stating, “Greetings to all the citizens of the country on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, a festival symbolizing the love and affection between brothers and sisters.”
Rajnath Singh extended his heartfelt wishes in a Hindi post on X, saying, “Heartfelt wishes to you all on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, a festival that reflects the love, trust, and affection between sisters and brothers.”
Traditionally falling on the second day after Diwali, Bhai Dooj celebrates the sacred bond between siblings. Its origin lies in Hindu mythology, where Yamraj, the god of death, visited his sister Yamuna on this day, and she welcomed him with an auspicious tilak. The festival occurs on the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika, the eighth month of the Hindu calendar.
Celebrated nationwide, the festival is known by different names in various states. In West Bengal, it is called Bhai Phota, and in Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is referred to as Bhai Beej. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu know it as Yama Dwitiya, while parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar celebrate it as Bhratri Dwitiya.