Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Bhai Phonta

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Observed by
 Bengali Hindus
2016 date
  
1 November

Date
  
Kartika Shukla Dwitiya

on the left a woman(left) applying a tikka on a boys forehead, standing, while holding a plate has brown hair wearing a orange with blue scarf saree, earrings and gold bracelet, a boy (right) standing eyes closed, holding a present, has brown hair wearing yellow shirt and white pants with blue sandals, at the right is a words “Bhai amar boro adorer Tar juri mela bhar Bon hoye aj dhonyo ami Peye sera upahar. Tumi bhalo thako, sukhe Thako Sudhu ei kori prarthona Tomar jibon hok Sumodhur Etai amar subha kamona. Subha Bhai Phonta!

Also called
  
Bhratri Dwitiya (ভ্রাতৃদ্বিতীয়া)

Type
  
Religious, India, Bangladesh

Significance
  
Public holiday in West Bengal

Similar
  
Diwali, Karva Chauth, Govardhan Puja

Bhai phonta


Bhai Phonta (Bengali: ভাইফোঁটা) is a Bengali Hindu festival, usually celebrated two days after the Kali Puja, where the sisters mark the foreheads of their brothers with sandalwood paste and pray for their safety, well being and success.Both of the siblings exchange gifts and blessings. The festival is similar to Bhai Dhooj in northern India, Bhai Tika in Nepal and other parts of eastern India and Bhau Beej in western India.

Contents

In a red background at the top has a word written in hindi with 2016, in the middle a tray of foods, fruits, coconut, gold bottle with a candle, with the word www.festivalsdatetime.co.in at the bottom,

Bhai phonta 2014


Origin

Has orange background, with a silhouette of a woman and applying a tikka on a man’s forehead at the right is a man’s silhouette standing still, with a wording “ Bhaier kopale dilam phonta Jomer duare porlo kaanta jamuna dai jon k phonta ami di amar k phonta SUbho Bhai Phonta”

According to Rig Veda, Yama and Yamuna were twins (brother and sister) born to Surya. In their earthly incarnations, Yamuna once longed to see her brother and invited Yama to her house. When Yama, the god of death visited his sister, his sister prayed for his well being. The other legends regarding the origin connect Vishnu, Krishna and Mahavira.

However, according to folklorist and social historian Shailendra Haldar, due to various societal changes with the advent of agriculture, the sisters began to pray for their brothers safety, well being, and success. The bhai phonta festival is rooted in that social practice.

Ritual

In white background, a boy sitting on the pillow, has brown hair wearing pink shirt and yellow pants, at the right a woman is sitting with her knee’s applying tikka on the kids forehead, has brown hair wearing a blue earrings a purple dress with blue saree, and blue pants.

According to the Bengali Hindu lunar calendar, the festival is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla paksha of the month of Kartik in late autumn. Sometimes it is also celebrated on the first day of the Shukla paksha.

In a room with a flat screen tv, cabinets, from left, a woman is smiling, crouching while applying tikka on the man's forehead, has long black hair wearing earring, bracelet, and white saree, at the right a man is serious, sitting, has black hair mustache, wearing a silver watch a white top and white pants, in front is a plates with foods.

The sister put a mark of sandalwood paste mixed with curd on her brother forehead with her left hand little finger thrice, while reciting a traditional rhyme -

A white background with a written word in Bengali language, at the right, is boxes of presents, and a tray of foods, fruits, coconut, gold bottle with a candle, with the word www.festivalsdatetime.co.in at the bottom,

ভাইয়ের কপালে দিলাম ফোঁটা, যমের দুয়ারে পড়ল কাঁটা।
যমুনা দেয় যমকে ফোঁটা, আমি দিই আমার ভাইকে ফোঁটা॥
যমুনার হাতে ফোঁটা খেয়ে যম হল অমর।
আমার হাতে ফোঁটা খেয়ে আমার ভাই হোক অমর॥

The rhyme has different variations in different family traditions. After, that the sister places paddy grains and durba i.e. tender shoots of grass on her brothers head. During this time, conch shells are blown and the women ululate. After that the sister blesses her brother if she is elder to him. Then the sister hands her brother a dish of traditional Bengali sweets and gifts. The brother in turn showers his sister with gifts.

Typical bhai phonta breakfasts consist of luchi and alur dam and an assortment of traditional sweets. The bhai phonta lunch is usually an elaborate affair with delicacies like hilsa, pabda, chicken or mutton. In Bengal, every year sweetmeat makers come up with new offerings alongside traditional ones. The price of fish and sweets go high during this festival. Sometimes hilsas are imported from Bangladesh in order to meet the demand.

Bhai phota holds a very important place in Bengali Hindu culture. Sisters usually consider it to be the most important event of the year. In 2009, Railway minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee skipped a cabinet meeting to celebrate the festival along with her family members.

References

Bhai Phonta Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA