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Bhai Dooj dates

When Bhai Dooj falls in 2026, 2027 and 2028: the day and the afternoon for Yama’s worship, for Delhi and cities abroad.

Next Bhai Dooj in Delhi

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Bhai Dooj is in 24 days. In Delhi the Dvitīyā covers the afternoon on both Tuesday and Wednesday, so Wednesday.

Afternoon, Yama’s worship13:09 – 15:19
DvitīyāTue 14:00 – Wed 15:53
Bhai Dooj 2026: every city and why

Bhai Dooj dates, 2026 to 2028

Afternoon, each city’s own time
YearDelhiLondonNew York CitySydney
Bhai Dooj 2026 Wed 11 Nov 13:09 – 15:19 Tue 10 Nov 12:38 – 14:27 Tue 10 Nov 12:40 – 14:40 Wed 11 Nov 14:01 – 16:46
Bhai Dooj 2027 Sun 31 Oct 13:10 – 15:23 Sat 30 Oct 13:42 – 15:39 Sat 30 Oct 13:42 – 15:48 Sun 31 Oct 13:59 – 16:40
Bhai Dooj 2028 Thu 19 Oct 13:13 – 15:29 Thu 19 Oct 13:47 – 15:51 Thu 19 Oct 13:46 – 15:56 Thu 19 Oct 13:58 – 16:34

Bhai Dooj is the Dvitīyā of the bright fortnight of Kārtika. If the Dvitīyā covers the afternoon of the earlier day only, Bhai Dooj is that day; if it covers both afternoons, or neither, it is the later day. Dharmasindhu p. 79

The texts call the day Yama-dvitīyā: Yamunā fed Yama, her brother, at her home on this day. Dharmasindhu p. 79; Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 305

A man eats that day from his sister’s hand, away from his own home, which brings wealth, grain and happiness, and honours all his sisters with clothes and ornaments; one with no sister honours a friend’s. His sister worships him, which spares her widowhood and gives him long life. A bath in the Yamunā is part of the day, and in the afternoon Yama is worshipped with Citragupta and his messengers, and arghya is given to Yama. Dharmasindhu p. 79; Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 304⁠–⁠306

The Nirṇaya-sindhu reports two other views without choosing between them: the Dvitīyā joined to the Pratipadā (the Nirṇayāmṛta), and the one that covers midday, joined to the Pratipadā (Hemādri). Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 304

Popular practice: the names Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta and Bhai Tika; the form of the sister’s worship, with the tilak, the ārti and the coconut; her gifts to her brother; and a muhurat for the tilak. The texts read give none of these.

In popular practice, Bhai Dooj closes the five days of Diwali. Diwali dates.

Questions

From the Dharmasindhu, p. 79, and the Nirṇaya-sindhu, pp. 304⁠–⁠306.

When is Bhai Dooj?

In Delhi: Wednesday, 11 November 2026, Sunday, 31 October 2027 and Thursday, 19 October 2028. Bhai Dooj turns on the Dvitīyā’s cover of the afternoon, so the date can differ abroad. Dharmasindhu p. 79

What time is the Bhai Dooj muhurat?

The afternoon, the fourth fifth of the daytime, when the Dharmasindhu sets Yama’s worship with Citragupta and the arghya to Yama. The meal at the sister’s home has no stated time. Dharmasindhu p. 79; Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 304⁠–⁠306

Is Bhai Dooj the same as Yama Dwitiya?

Yes. The texts call the day Yama-dvitīyā, because Yamunā fed Yama, her brother, at her home on it. Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta and Bhai Tika are popular names for the same day. Dharmasindhu p. 79; Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 305

Why is the date different abroad?

The day turns on whether the Dvitīyā covers the afternoon at the city. The Dvitīyā begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, but each city’s afternoon falls at a different moment, so a city far from Delhi can keep the other day.

How the day is found

Read the methodology
The day
The Kārtika śukla Dvitīyā: the earlier day only when it covers the afternoon on that day alone, otherwise the later day (Dharmasindhu p. 79).
Afternoon
The fourth fifth of the daytime at the city, from sunrise to sunset: the time for Yama’s worship and the arghya to Yama. The meal at the sister’s home has no stated time.
Other views
The Nirṇaya-sindhu’s two reported views, the Pratipadā-joined Dvitīyā and Hemādri’s midday, appear as a note (p. 304).

Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa for month names · each city’s own time · Swiss Ephemeris · Method