Bhau Beej, sixth day of Diwali in Maharashtra, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters

Bhau Beej is a festival of the sacred love between brothers and sisters and falls within the five to six days of Diwali. It is observed on Kartik Shuddha Dwitiya, which is the sixth day of Diwali by Maharashtra's tradition. It is also known as Yama Dwitiya. In Hindi it is called Bhai Dooj.

According to the legend, on this day Lord Yamraj went to eat at the house of his sister Yamuna on her invitation. Yamuna welcomed her brother and performed his aarti. Pleased, Yamraj asked her to seek a boon. Yamuna asked that a brother who eats at his sister's house on this day, and whose sister performs his aarti, should have no fear of Yama. The tradition has continued since then.

Married sisters respectfully invite their brothers home, or the brother goes to his sister's house, and the two share a sweet meal. The sister applies kumkum and akshat to her brother's forehead and performs his aarti with a lamp or niranjan. She prays to God for his long life and good health. After the aarti, the brother lovingly gives his sister a gift, clothes or a token offering. A sister who has no brother worships the sliver of the moon and performs the aarti of Chanda Mama, the moon.

In the evening, after the sliver of the moon appears, the sister first performs the aarti of the moon and then of her brother. The brother then honours her by placing a token offering in the aarti plate. On this day, members of the Kayastha community visit a Chitragupta temple and worship the inkpot, pen and Chitragupta.

On this day Yamraj visited his sister Yamuna's house, gave her gifts such as clothes and jewellery, and ate there, which is why the day is called Yama Dwitiya. Bathing in the Yamuna river on this day is considered highly sacred. It is believed that this removes fear of Yama for that year.

A legend of Yama and Yami is also told. When Yama died, Yami was so grief-stricken that her weeping and tears would not stop. To show that the day had ended, a deity created night. Yami's grief then eased somewhat. It is said that the practice of Bhau Beej began from then. For a brother's long life, the sister should worship and pray to Yamraj.

On this day the sister worships her brother by performing his aarti and applies the tilak of love. The tilak reflects the sister's selfless love. The purpose of worshipping the brother is that he be saved from Yamraj's noose, that is, from death, and live long. The brother places money, cloth or jewellery in the offering according to his means. The scriptures state that on this day one should not eat food prepared at home or by one's wife. If a person has no brother, near or distant, the custom is to perform the aarti of Chanda Mama.