Bhai Dooj 2026 Date & Tilak Time: 11 November
Bhai Dooj 2026 is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, the last of the five days of Diwali. In New Delhi the Aparahna (afternoon) period traditionally preferred for the tilak ceremony is about 1:09 PM to 3:19 PM, within the Dwitiya tithi, which ends at about 3:53 PM.
| Date | Wednesday, 11 November 2026 |
| Also known as | Bhaiya Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta (Bengal), Bhai Tika (Nepal), Yama Dwitiya |
| Aparahna time (New Delhi, approx.) | 1:09 PM to 3:19 PM |
| Dwitiya tithi | about 2:00 PM, 10 November to 3:53 PM, 11 November 2026 (IST) |
| Day of Diwali | Day 5 of the 5-day festival |
The Aparahna period is the fourth of five equal parts of the day between sunrise and sunset; we calculated it from New Delhi sunrise (6:40 AM) and sunset (5:29 PM). Dwitiya times are converted from Drik Panchang tithi timings.
What is Bhai Dooj?
Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters apply a tilak to their brother’s forehead, perform aarti and pray for his long life, and brothers give gifts and promise to support their sisters. It falls on the Dwitiya (second day) of the bright half of Kartik, two days after the Diwali new moon (three days in 2026, because of a gap day).
Its other name, Yama Dwitiya, comes from the story of Yama, the god of death, visiting his sister Yamuna on this day. She welcomed him with a tilak and a meal, and Yama declared that any brother who receives tilak from his sister on this day will be protected.
How Bhai Dooj is celebrated
- The sister prepares a thali with roli, rice, a diya, sweets and a coconut or dry fruit.
- The brother sits facing north or east; the sister applies tilak and rice to his forehead and performs aarti.
- She offers sweets and in many homes a meal she has cooked.
- The brother gives a gift and blessings or promises of support.
- Where the brother cannot visit, many families perform a symbolic tilak or send it by post or video call.
Regional names and customs
- Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka: Bhau Beej.
- West Bengal: Bhai Phonta, with a sandalwood and ghee phonta (mark) and the chant for protection from Yama.
- Nepal: Bhai Tika, the last day of Tihar, with a seven-coloured tika.
- North India: Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj, sometimes with Chitragupta Puja by Kayastha families.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bhai Dooj on 10 or 11 November 2026?
In India it is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, when the Dwitiya tithi covers the afternoon. Some calendars for the Americas list 10 November because of the time difference.
What is the best time for Bhai Dooj tilak in 2026?
Panchangs recommend the Aparahna period, about 1:09 PM to 3:19 PM in New Delhi. Many families also do the tilak in the morning.
Related guides
Sources
- Drik Panchang – Hindu Calendar 2026 (date)
- Drik Panchang – Bhai Dooj 2026 (tithi timings)
- Sunrise, sunset and Aparahna calculated with the Astral astronomy library for New Delhi
