Bhai Dooj 2026
Bhai Dooj 2026 falls on Wednesday, Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Observed on: kartika shukla 2.
Exact date, puja muhurat & city-wise timings for Bhai Dooj 2026
Key Information
Festival Date
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
2026 Calendar Context
Weekday
Wednesday
Vikram Samvat
2083
Shaka Samvat
1948
This year Bhai Dooj falls on a Wednesday, 19 days later than 2025 (2025-10-23) — typical lunar-calendar drift.
Falling on a Wednesday gives the day a Budha emphasis — learning-related rites and green offerings carry extra weight, traditionally favourable for new study.
The 2025 observance fell on Thursday, 2025-10-23 — this year arrives 19 days later in the Gregorian calendar, the Adhika-masa pattern when an intercalary lunar month pushes the cycle forward.
Looking ahead to 2027, Bhai Dooj will fall on Sunday, 2027-10-31 (11 days earlier than this year). So planning ritual schedules across years means anchoring to the tithi rather than the Gregorian date.
Astronomical context for Bhai Dooj 2026
On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, sunrise in Delhi (the reference city for this page) falls at 06:40 IST and sunset at 17:29 IST — a daylight span of 10h 49m. Across the six pan-Indian cities tabulated below, sunrise on this date varies from 05:46 (Kolkata) at the eastern edge to 06:43 (Mumbai) in the west — a 57-minute difference that drives the city-by-city muhurat shift you see in the table.
For Bhai Dooj 2026, the central rite of aparahna (afternoon) depends on the Kartika Shukla 2 being present during that window on 2026-11-11 — confirmed across 6 reference cities in this year's computation pass. Cities further east (Kolkata, Chennai) see the window open ~15-25 minutes before Delhi; cities west of Delhi (Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore) see it start later by a similar margin.
City-Wise Timings for Bhai Dooj 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 6:40 AM | 5:29 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:16 AM | 5:50 PM |
| Chennai | 6:05 AM | 5:39 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:46 AM | 4:54 PM |
| Pune | 6:38 AM | 5:58 PM |
Click any city for detailed local timings, puja vidhi & samagri list
How will Bhai Dooj 2026 affect your sign?
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Bhai Dooj — Do's & Don'ts
Sourced from Dharmasindhu, Nirnayasindhu, and contemporary tradition.
Do
- Sister applies tilak on brother's forehead in Aparahna kaal (afternoon, ~1:30-4 PM).
- Sister prepares a meal for the brother — even one dish counts.
- Brother gives a gift, money, or commitment of lifelong protection.
- Recall the Yama-Yamuna story — the festival's mythological anchor.
Don't
- Brothers should not eat at their own home today — eating at sister's is the tradition.
- Do not engage in business deals or major financial transactions with each other.
- Avoid criticism or quarrel — the festival is about reaffirming bonds.
- Do not perform any inauspicious or sad-themed ritual today.
Bhai Dooj 2026 Wishes & Greetings
One click to copy. All original — free to share, even for business.
Yama-Yamuna day. May your sister's tilak on your forehead today shield you from the worst of next year. Bhai Dooj wishes.
Two days after Diwali, the lights still on, your sister hands you a plate. That's Bhai Dooj. Hold it close.
May the bond of this day outlast every distance you both will cover. Shubh Bhai Dooj.
Yama, Yamuna, and you. Three days after Diwali, the smaller bond reasserts itself. Wishing you whichever side of it you are on today.
Whichever sister fed you today, owe her one. Wishing you the kind of brother-sister account that never closes. Shubh Bhai Dooj.
5-Day Diwali Sequence — Festival Cluster
The five days of Diwali begin with Dhanteras and end with Bhai Dooj — each day with its own deity, ritual, and astrological focus.
Bhai Dooj Across the Years — 2020-2030
Past and future dates — one place.
Why This Date?
Bhai Dooj follows the Aparahna (Afternoon) rule. The tithi must be active during the Aparahna (Afternoon) window for the festival to be observed on that day. When the tithi spans two calendar days, the Dharmasindhu tie-breaking rules determine the correct observance date.
Tithi Determination Rule
The tithi must prevail during Aparahna (afternoon). Used for festivals like Dussehra.
Source: Dharmasindhu & Nirnayasindhu – classical Kala-Vyapti system
Puja Vidhi
Materials Required
- Roli / Kumkum (vermilion)
- Akshat (unbroken rice)
- Diya (oil/ghee lamp)
- Aarti plate (thali)
- Sweets (mithai)
Puja Steps
- 1
Preparation
Both brother and sister should bathe and wear fresh clothes. The sister prepares the aarti thali with roli, akshat, diya...
- 2
Seating & Invocation
The brother sits on a clean seat (asana) facing East. The sister sits opposite him. Light the diya and invoke the blessi...
- 3
Tilak Ceremony
The sister applies a tilak of roli (kumkum) on the brother's forehead using the ring finger. Then she places akshat (ric...
Phala (Benefits)
Bhai Dooj bestows Yama's protection upon the brother, ensuring longevity and freedom from untimely death. The sister gains merit equal to Yamuna puja. The bond between siblings is sanctified and strengthened for lifetimes.
Deity
Yama, Yamuna
Legend & History
Bhai Dooj is rooted in the story of Yama (the God of Death) and his twin sister Yamuna. After a long absence, Yama visited Yamuna on this day, and she welcomed him with an aarti, a tilak on his forehe… Read full legend →Show less ↑
Bhai Dooj is rooted in the story of Yama (the God of Death) and his twin sister Yamuna. After a long absence, Yama visited Yamuna on this day, and she welcomed him with an aarti, a tilak on his forehead, and a feast. Touched by her love, Yama granted a boon that any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day shall be freed from the fear of untimely death. Another tradition links it to Lord Krishna visiting his sister Subhadra after slaying Narakasura.
How to Observe
Sisters apply a ceremonial tilak of kumkum, rice, and sandalwood on their brother's forehead, perform his aarti, and pray for his long life. Brothers give gifts and sweets in return and vow to protect their sisters. Special foods and sweets are prepared. If a sister has no brother, she may worship Yama and the moon.
Significance
Bhai Dooj celebrates the sacred bond between brother and sister. It is the fifth and final day of the Diwali festival. The blessing of a sister is believed to be powerful enough to ward off Yama himself. It is observed across India by different names – Bhai Phota in Bengal, Bhai Tika in Nepal, and Bhai Bij in Gujarat.
Looking for Bhai Dooj 2027?
Bhai Dooj 2027 Date & Muhurat