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Today is Bhaitika, the last day of
Yamanpanchak. It is the most important day and is also known as Bhai tihar.
The day was observed across the nation by sisters putting tika on the
foreheads of brothers and ensuring their long life. The auspicious hour for
the brothers to receive tika was announced at 11:55 am by the Calender
Determination Committee. It is believed that Yamraj, the God of Death visited
his sister Yamuna on this particular day where she applied the auspicious
tika on his forehead, garlanded him and fed him with special dishes.
Together, they ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves to their heart's
content. While parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a token of his love
and in return Yami also gave him a lovely gift which she had made with her
own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tilak from his
sister will never be thrown to death on that day . A special garland is made
for the brothers out of a flower that wilts only after a couple of months,
symbolizing the sister's prayer for her brother's long life. Brothers sit on
a floor while sisters perform their puja. The puja follows a traditional
ritual in which sisters circle brothers dripping oil on the floor from a
copper pitcher applying oil in brother's hair, then 7 color tika is applied
on brothers forehead. Then brothers give tika to sisters in the same fashion
along with exchange of gifts. This is practiced regardless of whether brother
is younger or elder to the sister. Those without a sister or brother join
relatives or friends for tika. This festival brings brothers and sisters
closer.
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