Bhai Dooj 2026: Date and Tilak Muhurat

Bhai Dooj, or Yama Dwitiya, is the last day of the five-day Diwali festival, on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya. Sisters apply tilak to their brothers, perform aarti and pray for their long life, recalling the story of Yamuna welcoming her brother Yama to her home. It is called Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, Bhai Phonta in Bengal and Bhai Tika in Nepal. The same day is Chitragupta Puja for the Kayastha community.

The tilak is traditionally applied in the afternoon (aparahna, the fourth fifth of the day) while Dwitiya prevails. When Dwitiya covers the afternoon on two days, the day with fuller coverage is chosen.

Yama, the god of death, visited his sister Yamuna on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya after a long time. She welcomed him with a tilak, aarti and a meal, and Yama granted that any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day will be free from the fear of untimely death.

No. Both celebrate brothers and sisters, but Raksha Bandhan, in Shravana, is about the sister tying a rakhi, while Bhai Dooj, in Kartika, is about the sister applying a tilak and the brother visiting her home for a meal.

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Shukla Dwitiya runs from 1:59 pm, 10 Nov to 3:49 pm, 11 Nov (Indian Standard Time).

Each city's muhurat is calculated from its own sunrise, sunset, tithi and rising lagna (Lahiri ayanamsa). Lagna windows usually agree with printed panchangs to within a few minutes; tithi times are approximate, usually within about 30 minutes. Cities outside India show their local date and time. For a havan or a family-specific muhurat, confirm with your purohit.

Many families, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, choose the puja or shopping time on Bhai Dooj from the Choghadiya. Amrit, Shubh and Labh are the good periods; Char also suits travel.