New Delhi: Bhai Dooj is a festival that celebrates the love and bond between brothers and sisters. This year, it falls on Thursday, October 23. Traditionally, sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being and prosperity, and brothers bless them in return. But what if you are a sister and do not have a brother?
Even without a brother, Bhai Dooj can be meaningful. The essence of the festival is love, care, and blessings. You can adapt the rituals to honour yourself, a dear friend, or a family member who is like a brother.
Ways to celebrate Bhai Dooj without brothers
1. Express heartfelt care and love
Bhai Dooj is about expressing heartfelt care and love. Sisters can dedicate the rituals to their personal growth, well-being, happiness and inner strength. They can choose father, uncle, cousin, a trusted friend or even a symbolic figure like the moon, Lord Yama or Krishna to celebrate the festival.
2. Prepare puja thali
The puja thali represents blessings and positive energy. It includes items like vermilion and rice grains, a lamp (diya), sweets and fruits, coconut or betel leaf, and flowers.
3. Perform tilak and aarti rituals
Light the diya and wave it gently in a circular motion, symbolising the cycle of blessings and positive energy. Apply a tilak on your own forehead, or on the forehead of a loved one or deity you honour. Offer prayers for long life, happiness, prosperity, and protection. Share sweets to complete the ritual.
4. Offer blessings or affirmations
When involving a family member or friend, exchange a token of appreciation or a few loving words. When performing the ritual for yourself, take a quiet moment to affirm your own growth, resilience, and aspirations. It reminds us that blessings can also be received inwardly.
5. Reflect and connect
Bhai Dooj is also a day of reflection by spending time in solitude, meditating or journaling your gratitude. Consider the bonds in your life and let them inspire your prayers.
Why celebrating Bhai Dooj matters
Bhai Dooj is a festival of connection, care, and reflection. By performing these rituals, sisters recognise their own strength, growth, and self-worth. They express gratitude and devotion in family and community life, and embrace the festival’s essence – joy, harmony, and abundance. Even without a brother, the day is rich in spiritual blessings, emotional fulfilment, and self-love.
This Bhai Dooj 2025, sisters without brothers can still celebrate with intention and devotion. Whether dedicating it to themselves, a loved one, or a deity, it is a day of blessings, love, and protection. May Bhai Dooj 2025 bring happiness, prosperity, inner strength, and peace into your life and the lives of those you care for.
Written by: Tanya Singh, Astropatri.com. For any feedback, please contact [email protected]