Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha celebrated Bhai Dooj with women BJP party workers at his residence on Sunday, marking his second consecutive year of joining the festivities alongside party members. In a statement to reporters, Saha expressed that while he has always celebrated Bhai Dooj at home, participating in the celebrations with BJP workers has added a new dimension to the experience since he joined the party. Bhai Dooj, a festival honoring the bond between brothers and sisters, is celebrated across India under various names. In Bengal, it is known as Bhai Phonta, while in Maharashtra, it is referred to as Bhai Tika. In the southern states of Karnataka and Telangana, the day is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya.
The festival’s origins trace back to Hindu mythology, where Goddess Yamuna invited her brother Yamraj for a meal on Kartik Dwitiya. During the celebrations, sisters apply a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and perform rituals, including fasting and prayers, for their well-being. In return, brothers offer gifts and promise protection.
Distinct from Raksha Bandhan, which involves sisters tying a protective thread on their brothers’ wrists, Bhai Dooj centers around the tilak ceremony and other traditional customs. The celebration is steeped in ancient Hindu texts, featuring stories of deities Krishna and Yamraj, symbolizing the enduring bond between siblings.
