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Festival guide · 2026

Bhai Dooj 2026

Name: Bhai Dooj 2026
Start: 2026-11-11
End: 2026-11-11
Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Bhai Dooj closes the Diwali festival: sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers, and brothers give gifts in return. Here is the date for your city, worked out by the advanced iAstroGuru Engine.

New Delhi, Delhi, India · Asia/Kolkata

This guide covers 2026. Use the festival calendar for other years.

Dates for your city

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Diwali · Lakshmi PujaSunday, 8 November 2026Panchang for this day
Govardhan PujaTuesday, 10 November 2026Panchang for this day
Bhai DoojWednesday, 11 November 2026Panchang for this day

Dates can vary with place and tradition. Check your family’s or temple’s local observance too.

About the festival date

Bhai Dooj is observed on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, also called Yama Dwitiya after the story of Yama visiting his sister Yamuna. The tilak is traditionally applied in the afternoon. The date below is calculated for the chosen city; regional observances may differ.

How India celebrates

North India (Bhaiya Dooj): sisters apply roli and rice tilak, perform aarti and feed their brothers a sweet before the meal.
Mathura: brothers and sisters bathe together at Vishram Ghat on the Yamuna, a custom tied to Yama and Yamuna.
Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka: Bhau-beej, with an aarti for the brother and a family meal.
West Bengal: Bhai Phonta, where the sister puts a sandalwood mark on the brother’s forehead with a blessing.
Gujarat: Bhai Bij, when brothers visit their sisters’ homes.

Planning your day

Sisters often keep a light fast until the tilak; check your city’s panchang for Rahu Kaal before fixing the time.
Brothers who live far away are often sent a tilak thali, a sweet or a call at the same hour.

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Full 2026 festival calendar