This final day of the 5 days long festival of Diwali is a very special one. Its a day that makes you value family relations - a day symbolizing the love between brothers and sisters.
Women pray for the well-being and prosperity of their brothers while men vow to protect their sisters and shower them with presents. Isn't that a lovely tradition? Yes, we do we have Rakhi, a festival on the same notes but while Rakhi is all about brothers vowing to protect their sisters, Bhai Dooj is all about sisters praying for their brothers well being. So in a way, Rakhi is for pampering sisters while Bhai Dooj is for pampering Brothers.
How did this tradition originate?
Mythology says that Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after slaying the demon Narakasura and Subhadra welcomed him warmly with sweets and flowers after applying a tilak of protection on his forehead. This legend is believed to be the origin of Bhai Dooj.
Applying the protective tilak on their brother's forehead by the sisters is the most important aspect of this festival.
Thus we have come to the end of one of India's BRIGHTEST and most LOVED festivals - one that is celebrated by Indians no matter which part of the world they are - the one illuminates our home and also ourselves by removing spiritual darkness - let us bid farewell to DEEPAVALI or DIWALI as she is lovingly called until we meet her again next year with a promise to Mother Earth that we will keep her clean and pollution free with each and every celebration - HATS off to everyone who made it a GREEN DIWALI this year bidding ADIEU to crackers!
