Bengal celebrate Bhaiya Dooj f

Lifestyle

Bengal celebrate Bhaiya Dooj festival with bouquet of special sweets

It's all about sweets and candied dishes everywhere that's however not sweeter than the everlasting cute bond between a sister and her brother today, still Bengal - a land of sweets showcase multiple desserts during Bhai Phonta when the siblings assemble at least for once a year to recharge their emotions and sweet memories.

The five-day Diwali festival concludes with Bhaiya Dooj - a ritual symbolizing an 'unbreakable' bond between the brothers and sisters. The ritual is also known as Yama Dwitiya, Bhratri Dwitiya, or Bhai Phonta. Like the previous years, this year too, some confusion among people prevailed regarding the 'correct' date of Bhai Phonta celebrations.

According to the Hindu calendar, this year, the Dwitiya Tithi will begin at 8:16 pm on 22 October. It will cease at 10:46 pm on 23 October, suggesting that Bhai Phonta will be celebrated on 23 October across India. The 'auspicious time' for applying Tilak on this day will remain active between 1:13 pm and 3:28 pm.

It is believed by the Sanatanis that on this day, Yamaraj (hindu god of death, justice, and the afterlife) visited his sister Yamuna's (daughter of the sun god Surya) home. She treated her brother with great hospitality, offering him delicious foods and special sweets, and applying a Tilak (a mark of the moon) to his forehead. Surprised and pleased with this, Yamaraj granted her the boon that any brother who visits his sister's home on this very day, and is offered a Tilak, will have no fear of premature death and will be blessed with a long life. This was why this festival is also known as Yama Dwitiya.

On this day, sisters observe a fasting till she's applying a Tilak for her brother's long life, happiness, and prosperity. Brothers, too, to mark the occasion memorable, offer special gifts and sweet packets to their sisters, and vows to promise protection for their sisters.

Sisters also arrange special sweets for their loving brothers to mark the day as the 'sweetest day' of the year.

The Bengal confectioners gear up to serve the best quality of morden sweets, besides the conventional sweets for the customers. The traditional sweets like Rasagolla, Jilipi, and sweet curd sell high, but during this Bengali festival Bhai Phota, sweet makers make special types of sweets with innovative ideas.

All popular sweet outlets in Bengal have started creating a variety of special sweets for Bhai Phota. As unique as the sweets are, their names are even more unique. Preparations are in full swing!

"Ten to 15 new varieties of sweets for Bhai Phota are ready for sale this year. We never use acid or artificial colours," said sweet shop owner cum sweet maker Raju ghosh. He also added that "all traditional sweets like Kalakand, Kshirmohan, Rasmalai, Raskadam, Kacha Golla, Baked Rasogolla, Apple Sweets are just for Rs-10. The demand for new sweets is higher than the traditional sweets this year in Bhai Phota. There will be a demand for Rasgolla, Sandesh and yogurt, but people are also liking new sweets with different flavors and taste."

The day before Bhai Phota, the crowd in the sweet shops is quite noticeable. One after another, tempting sweets are arranged and preparation under prosses. Thinking about the crowded outlets, common people are buying sweets in advance and storing them at home. Some people just come alone to taste the new sweets today before Bhai Phota .

Fish, rice, sweets and curd are the integral parts of the lifestyle of the common Bengalees. Every Bengali sister wants this special day of Bhai Phota to be celebrated in a special way with special types of sweets. That is why the people of Bengal prepare and buy sweets the day before, to spend the holiday with their families wholeheartedly after exhausting all types of sweets and special food dishes.