Bhai Tika is a quiet, warm celebration of a simple human promise: sisters bless and pray for their brothers’ long, safe lives; brothers return the love with gifts and devotion. It falls at the close of Tihar (the Nepali festival of lights) and is one of those days that feels gently ritual and deeply personal at once.
In Nepal, the ceremony is especially vivid. Sisters paint a saptarangi (seven-coloured) tika on their brothers’ foreheads, weave long-lasting makhamali (Gomphrena) garlands and perform a delicate puja that even includes walking around the brother with oil and holy water to create a protective circle. These acts are rooted in stories of Yama and Yamuna, and are meant to safeguard life and fortune. Brothers often touch their sisters’ feet and give gifts, and special foods like sel roti appear on the table.
In India, the festival is celebrated under different names and customs. In the northern regions, it’s called Bhai Dooj, where sisters perform aarti and apply a tilak on their brothers, praying for their long life and prosperity. In West Bengal, it’s known as Bhai Phonta, and in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka, it’s celebrated as Bhau Beej or Bhav Bij, each with its own set of rituals and traditions.
Despite the variations, the essence of Bhai Tika remains the same: a day to honour and strengthen the sibling bond through rituals, prayers, and shared meals. It’s a reminder of the love and protection siblings offer each other, transcending regional differences.
