Bhai Dooj 2026 date & time: Is it on November 10 or 11? Check 2-hour-16-minute shubh muhurat, exact tilak timings, puja rituals & legend behind the festival

Bhai Dooj, one of the important festivals celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, will be observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Also known as Bhaiya Dooj, Bhau Beej and Yama Dwitiya, the festival falls on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartika. On this occasion, sisters perform traditional rituals, apply a ceremonial tilak on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life, good health, happiness and prosperity. Brothers, in return, express their affection by giving gifts to their sisters. According to Drik Panchang, the Aparahna period is considered auspicious for performing Bhai Dooj rituals. Here are the festival's date, shubh muhurat, tithi timings, puja rituals and religious significance.

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Bhai Dooj 2026: Date and shubh muhurat

Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious Aparahna period for performing the rituals will last for 2 hours and 16 minutes.


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Bhai Dooj 2026 puja timings:

• Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
• Bhai Dooj Aparahna time: 1:30 PM to 3:46 PM
• Duration: 2 hours and 16 minutes

Bhai Dooj 2026: Dwitiya Tithi timings

As per Drik Panchang, Bhai Dooj is observed on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha during the Kartika month. The tithi timings for 2026 are:

• Dwitiya Tithi begins: 2:00 PM on November 10, 2026
• Dwitiya Tithi ends: 3:53 PM on November 11, 2026

The festival is also referred to as Yama Dwitiya, highlighting its association with the Hindu deity Yama and his sister, Goddess Yamuna.

Bhai Dooj 2026: Puja rituals and traditions

Bhai Dooj is marked by a series of traditional rituals through which sisters pray for their brothers' well-being and long life. On the festival day, sisters typically wake up early, take a bath and prepare for the puja. They invite their brothers and arrange a decorated puja thali containing items required for the ceremony.

During the ritual, sisters apply tilak to their brothers' foreheads, tie a sacred thread around their wrists and perform aarti. They then offer sweets and prepare a festive meal for their brothers.

The ceremony is followed by the exchange of gifts. Brothers present their sisters with clothes, money or other tokens of affection, depending on their means. The celebrations bring families together and reinforce the bond between siblings.

Bhai Dooj significance: Why is the festival called Yama Dwitiya?

Bhai Dooj is also known as Yama Dwitiya because of its association with Yamaraja, the Hindu god of death, and his sister, Goddess Yamuna. According to Hindu mythology, Yamuna invited her brother Yama to her home, where she welcomed him with affection and performed traditional rituals. Pleased with her hospitality, Yama granted her a boon. She asked that brothers who visit their sisters and receive their blessings on this day should be protected from the fear of death.

This legend forms the religious foundation of Bhai Dooj celebrations. Bathing in the sacred Yamuna River on this occasion is also considered auspicious. According to religious beliefs, the ritual is associated with purification, good fortune, longevity and prosperity.

Religious beliefs associated with Bhai Dooj

Hindu religious traditions attach special importance to the tilak ceremony performed on Bhai Dooj. It is believed that brothers who visit their sisters and receive tilak on this day are blessed with a long life and protection from the fear of Yama. For sisters, observing the associated rituals and prayers is believed to bring good fortune, happiness and prosperity.

Beyond its religious significance, Bhai Dooj celebrates the affection, trust and responsibilities shared between siblings. The festival continues to be observed with traditional ceremonies, family gatherings, prayers and the exchange of gifts across the country.