Bhai Bhij takes place on the second day of the new year (Kartik Sud 2). On this day, a woman invites her brother to have a meal at her home. In return, the brother promises her that in any kind of trouble, he shall protect her and her family.
This festival celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. It is a day of love, devotion, and family unity. The sister performs a tilak ceremony on her brother’s forehead as a blessing, and the brother in turn offers gifts and vows his lifelong protection.
The celebration reinforces the importance of family ties and the duty of protection that siblings owe one another, rooted deeply in the values of Sanatan Dharma.