Udham Singh Nagar, October 23, 2025: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated the festival of Bhai Dooj in Khatima town of Udham Singh Nagar district on Thursday. During the ceremony, his mother and sisters applied a ceremonial tilak on his forehead and offered their blessings.
Extending greetings to all sisters in the state, the Chief Minister prayed for their continued love and affection and wished that they achieve greater heights of success in life. Earlier, he also shared his wishes on social media, saying: “Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of the state on the auspicious festival of Bhai Dooj, the symbol of unbreakable love, affection, and trust between brothers and sisters. May this festival bring happiness, harmony, and love into your lives.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion. In a post on X, he wrote: “Heartfelt wishes to all of you on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. May this festival, symbolising the mutual love and trust between brother and sister, bring happiness, prosperity, and good fortune into everyone’s life. May the bond of this relationship gain renewed strength; that is my wish.”
Significance of Bhai Dooj
Celebrated across India under various names, Bhai Dooj marks the bond between brothers and sisters. In northern India, it is known as Bhai Dooj, Bhau Bij, Bhai Beej, or Bhai Tika; in Bengal as Bhai Phonta; and in southern states like Karnataka and Telangana as Yama Dwitiya.
According to mythology, Goddess Yamuna fed her brother Yamraj on the day of Kartik Dwitiya, which is why the festival is also called Yama Dwitiya. Sisters apply tilak to their brothers’ foreheads and perform rituals such as fasting and puja to pray for their brothers’ long and prosperous lives, while brothers give gifts and promise to protect their sisters. Bhai Dooj, akin in sentiment to Raksha Bandhan, is celebrated in several ancient Hindu scriptures as a festival honouring the eternal love and bond between siblings.
