Bhai Dooj is a festival celebrated by people of the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated in Nepal and India. Mostly, people belonging to the Hindu fold celebrate this festival. The main celebration of this day is similar to Rakshabandhan. It helps to solidify the bond between brother and sister. In the southern part of the country, the day is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya.
The story behind the inception of Bhai Dooj is very interesting and heart-warming. A long time ago, the sun god, Surya was married to a beautiful princess named Samjna. She soon gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The boy was named Yama and the girl was named Varni or Yamuna. They grew up together.
However, after some time, Samjna had to leave her family as she was unable to bear the brilliance and shine of her husband. She left Chhaya (Shadow) behind to compensate for her absence. But the shadow turned out to be a very cruel stepmother. She was very unkind to the twins. The shadow gave birth to her own children and drove the twins out of heaven. Yamuna fell to the earth and became the River Yamuna while Yama fell to Hell and became the God of Death.
After a few years, Varni married a prince and was living happily. But she missed her brother. Yama missed his sister as well. One day he decided to visit her. That day was two days after Diwali. Her house was already decorated. She was overjoyed with her brother’s presence. She asked her brother to present her a gift that all brothers should remember their sisters on this day and visit them if they can, and that, on this day, all sisters should pray for the happiness of their brothers.
