Bhai Dooj 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning
Bhai Dooj 2026
11 November 2026
Wednesday
8 days to go
Bhai Dooj 2027
31 October 2027
Sunday
362 days to go
Quick answer
Bhai Dooj 2026 falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026 (Delhi). Bhai Dooj, on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, closes the Diwali festival as a day for brothers and sisters: the sister applies a tilak and prays for her brother's long life, and he gives her gifts.
Key takeaways
- 2026: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
- 2027: Sunday, 31 October 2027
- Each year's section explains which rule gave the date and how the muhurat was cut to the tithi.
- All times are for Delhi; abroad the tithi follows local time, so the date can differ by a day.
What is Bhai Dooj?
Bhai Dooj, also called Yama Dwitiya, is the last day of the Diwali festival. Its best-known story involves Yamuna, the river goddess, and her brother Yama, god of death. Yamuna kept inviting him home, but Yama was always busy. On the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik he finally visited, and she welcomed him with a tilak (a mark on the forehead), an aarti and a lovingly cooked meal.
Touched, Yama declared that any brother who visits his sister on this day, eats from her hands and receives her tilak will be free from the fear of untimely death. Another story tells of Krishna returning after defeating the demon Narakasura and being greeted by his sister Subhadra with a tilak and sweets. Like Raksha Bandhan, the day celebrates the bond between siblings.
How Bhai Dooj is observed
Traditionally the brother goes to his sister's home. She prepares a plate with roli (red powder), rice grains, a lamp, sweets and a coconut. Seating him on a low stool, she applies the tilak, performs aarti and feeds him a sweet. A festive meal she has cooked follows, and he gives her a gift or money. Many sisters fast until the tilak is done.
In Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka the day is Bhau Beej, and the sister performs aarti for her brother and cooks special dishes. In Bengal, Bhai Phonta sees sisters apply a sandalwood mark while reciting a verse wishing their brothers protection from Yama. Nepal calls it Bhai Tika, with a seven-coloured tika. In Mathura, siblings bathe together in the Yamuna at Vishram Ghat. Families spread across countries often hold the tilak over a video call and post gifts ahead of time.
Bhai Dooj 2026: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Wednesday, 11 November 2026
On this day Dwitiya (Shukla Paksha) covers more of aparahna (the fourth fifth of daylight).
- Tithi
- 10 Nov, 2:00 PM – 11 Nov, 3:53 PM
- Bhai Dooj tilak: aparahna (within Dwitiya)
- 1:10 PM – 3:19 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:40 AM / 5:30 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 12:05 PM – 1:26 PM
Full period (before cutting to the tithi): 1:10 PM – 3:20 PM
Bhai Dooj gives weight to the aparahna, the afternoon portion of the day. The festival is kept on the day dwitiya covers more of the aparahna, and the tilak and meal are ideally done then, following the belief that Yama reached Yamuna's home in the afternoon. If that is not practical, families simply choose another auspicious moment while dwitiya is still running.
Bhai Dooj 2027: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Sunday, 31 October 2027
On this day Dwitiya (Shukla Paksha) covers more of aparahna (the fourth fifth of daylight).
- Tithi
- 30 Oct, 5:52 PM – 31 Oct, 5:13 PM
- Bhai Dooj tilak: aparahna (within Dwitiya)
- 1:11 PM – 3:24 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:32 AM / 5:37 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 4:14 PM – 5:37 PM
Full period (before cutting to the tithi): 1:11 PM – 3:24 PM
Bhai Dooj wishes
To the one who has always had my back: may your life be as bright as Diwali and as sweet as the tilak sweets. Happy Bhai Dooj.Send this on WhatsApp
More wishes will be added here soon.
Related festivals and lists
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time for Bhai Dooj tilak?
The preferred time is the aparahna, the afternoon portion of the day, provided dwitiya is in force. The panchang uses this rule to decide which day Bhai Dooj falls on. Because aparahna is worked out from local sunrise and sunset, its clock time changes from city to city, so use the muhurat calculated for where you live.
What is the story of Bhai Dooj?
The best-known story is about Yama, god of death, and his sister Yamuna, both children of the Sun god. Yamuna kept inviting Yama home, and on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya he finally came. She welcomed him with tilak, aarti and food. Pleased, Yama blessed all brothers who receive their sister's tilak on this day with long life.
What goes on a Bhai Dooj thali?
A Bhai Dooj thali usually holds roli or kumkum, unbroken rice, a ghee lamp, sweets, a dry coconut, betel leaf and nut, a sacred red thread and a few flowers. Some homes add sugar drops and dry fruits. In parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, women also draw Yama and Yamuna in cow dung and worship them. Contents vary with family custom.
What is the difference between Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan?
Both celebrate siblings, but the rituals differ. Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon of Shravan, when sisters tie a rakhi on their brother's wrist. Bhai Dooj comes at the end of Diwali, when sisters apply a tilak and brothers traditionally visit their sister's home for a meal. Bhai Dooj's story centres on Yama and Yamuna.
What are Bhau Beej and Bhai Phonta?
They are regional names for Bhai Dooj. Bhau Beej is the Marathi and Konkani name used in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, where sisters perform aarti and cook special dishes. Bhai Phonta is the Bengali observance, with a sandalwood mark and a verse asking Yama to protect the brother. In Nepal the same day is Bhai Tika.
How can Bhai Dooj be celebrated if siblings live far apart?
Distance does not cancel the festival. Many siblings in different cities or countries do the tilak over a video call at a time that works in both places, and send sweets or gifts ahead by post. Those without a sister often receive tilak from a cousin or a sister-like friend. The heart of the day is affection and wishing each other well.