Festival story · 4 tellings · East India, Pan-India, The Himalaya, West India
Yama dines at Yamuna's house
Yamuna's long-refused invitation is accepted on Karttika bright second; Yama frees the hells for the day and grants her wish for all brothers and sisters.
Yamuna asks Yama daily to dine with her and he puts her off, being busy. On Karttika bright second he comes with his attendants after freeing the dwellers in hell, who hold a festival. She anoints him with oil, bathes and adorns him, seats him and feeds him sweet rice dishes cooked in gold vessels. He gives gifts and a boon; she asks for his yearly visit, the release of sinners that day, and happiness for those who eat from a sister's hand. He promises that such a brother will never see the entrance to his abode. The chapter gives the rite: a man eats at his sister's house and honours her with gifts.
East India · West BengalAll traditionsBengali🪔 Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya)
On the second day after Kali Puja a Bengali sister marks her brother's forehead while saying a rhyme: I put the mark on my brother's brow, a thorn falls at Yama's door; Yamuna gives Yama the mark, I give my brother the mark. A feast follows. Kolkata tellers give the Yama and Yamuna dinner as the origin.
What is different here:
The story is carried by a spoken rhyme; the mark bars Yama's door, joining the two roles of Yama.
The Himalaya · NepalAll traditionsNepali🪔 Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya)
Yamuna's brother lies mortally ill and Yama comes for his soul. She asks him to wait until her worship of her brother is done, lengthens the ceremony until it includes Yama, and then asks him not to take her brother until the tika has faded, the oil she sprinkled has dried and the makhamali garland has wilted. On the fifth day of Tihar sisters circle their brothers with oil and holy water, garland them with makhamali and apply a seven-coloured tika.
What is different here:
Yama is the threat, not the brother; a human brother is saved by delay; the rite is a protective ring, a lasting garland and a seven-colour mark.
After killing Narakasura, Krishna visits his sister Subhadra, who welcomes him with sweets and flowers and puts a mark on his forehead; some hold this to be the origin of Bhau Beej. In Maharashtra and Haryana women without a brother honour the Moon in his place.