Nowhere is the bond of brotherly-sisterly love glorified with such grandeur as in India. Hindus celebrate this special relationship twice every year, with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj.
After a high-spirited celebration of Diwali , siblings across India get ready for Bhai Dooj. Here, sisters express their love by putting an auspicious tilak (mixture of saffron and water+rice grains) as a mark on the forehead of their brothers. They perform an aarti of him by showing him the light of the sacred flame as a sign of love and protection from evil forces.
Sisters are showered with gifts, treats and blessings from their brothers. Among other things, they eat treats left over from the celebrations a few days earlier. Bhai Dooj comes every year on the fifth and last day of Diwali, which falls on a new moon night. The name 'Dooj' means the second day after the new moon, the day of the festival, and 'Bhai' means brother.