Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Dooj, Bhai Phota, Bhai Teeka, Bhatri Ditya - A Beautiful Ritual

Bhaidooj is an occasion which is a sincere effort to pay tribute to the amazing bond of love between siblings. Bhai Duj comes from Bhaiya or Bhai which means brother and Dooj means second. The Bhaubeej festival falls on the second day after Diwali, or the second day of the new moon. Every year depending on the new moon, the date falls either in the month of October or November. Bhai Dooj 2010 will be celebrated on 7th November, Sunday.


Bhai Dooj Celebrations
The celebrations of Bhai dooj reflects the importance of unique cultural traditions that vary with different region of India. This helps to keep the family close and brings prosperity, well being and luck. Bhai Dooj falls on the two day after Diwali and is celebrated all over the country.

All the rituals and pooja held on this occasion are carried out on the Puja dias decorated for Diwali pooja. Sisters decorate their puja thali with mithai, batashas, roli, rice and the most important of all, coconut. After which every member of the family takes turns performing the puja. Brothers have to sit on a platform with a covered head and sisters sit in front of them. This is followed by the main ritual wherein sisters apply tikka on their brother's forehead and presents him with a coconut and some other delicacies and sweets.


Bhai Tikka or Bhai Teeka on Bhai Dooj Festival
Sisters express their love for their brother by applying a tilak on the forehead of their brothers. This red tilak or Bhai teeka represents the heartfelt wish of every sister for the safety and well being of her brothers from all evils. Brothers too convey their highest regards for their sister with Bhai Dooj gifts of her choice.

Auspicious Gift Ideas on Diwali Festival

With the ever increasing distances, Deepavali gifts are now an extended expression of best wishes shared between near and dear ones. There are many auspicious gift ideas that can be chosen for this occasion. Some of these popular Diwali gifts are discussed below.

Diwali Sweets - A perfect way to express your love or send best wishes is through sweets of different tastes adorned with beautiful packaging.

Diwali Puja Thali - An auspicious ‘Lakshmi-Ganesha’ pooja thali in a vareity of materials decked with flowers, golden gota, idols, katoris with roli chawal, diyas and many more.

Ganesha-Laxmi Gifts - Bring home this beautifying divinity and decorate your home with their gracious presence and blissful blessings.

Diwali Silver Gifts - Divine elegance crafted in pure silver and some such ideas of silver gifts are Thalis, Idols, Jewelry, Coins.

Deepawali Gold Gifts - Gold is a precious metal which is most easily associated with Deepavali festival. Any Diwali celebration is incomplete without gold based gift items.

Diwali Diyas / Diwali Candles – Earthen, Clay, Brass, White Metal, Silver are the most commonly used materials of which Diyas are made.

All these gifts or products are an inseparable part of this occasion and give an auspicious feel to the festival of lights, Deewali.

Flowers - The Most Alluring Gift of All

Love, Happiness, Remembrance, Congratulations, Best Wishes are just some of the emotions which flowers convey beautifully and with style. Flowers are the best expressions of the beauty of life. The answer of every gifting dilemma faced over times immemorial is flowers so much so that it is customary to send flowers for a birthday, anniversary, wedding and on other personal celebrations.

These are a gift idea accepted across cultures, countries and ethnicity, everyone associates with flowers very easily. This is the reason that even cultural celebrations are also incomplete without flowers. Native flower types may be more common but there are also the exotic blooms which may not be native to a culture or society but are gifted on or presented on or grace any event or occasion or festival.

Even the presentation of blossoms differs from place to place and the theme of any occasion. Bouquet / Bunches, Baskets, Combos / Hampers, Serenades, Designer / Unique are just some of the ideas which may be followed as a flower arrangement.

Send Flowers to India and Worldwide this festive season. There could not be a better gifting option than this one.

Dhanteras, Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi

Dhanteras is a festival which falls on the first day of the five day Diwali festival extravaganza. Other names of this occasion are Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Triodasi. As per the Hindu calender, it is celebrated on the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. Dhanteras 2010 falls on 3 November (as per the more popular Gregorian calender).

Dhanteras day is considered especially fortuitous by the merchant, business class households. Preparations involve homes work premises being renovated and bedecked with decorations. From the Rangolis at the entrances to the vermilion and rice flour footprints throughout the house to the burning lamps, everything welcomes Goddess Lakshmi to shower her blessings on the residents.

This festival pays tribute to wealth and prosperity and thus is considered the right time for procuring new gold or silver articles or new utensils for own use and as Dhanteras gifts as well. Dhanteras is also a good time for gift shopping for the occasion of Diwali two days away.

Lakshmi Pujan is the main focus of the Dhanteras celebrations, it is organised right before sunset and clay diyas are lighted to drive away evil spirits. Devotional songs in reverence of Goddess Laxmi are sung, these are called Bhajans. Prasad or Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. Cows are also worshipped on this day as they are the incarnation of Laxmi.

Karva Chauth 2010 - Karva Chauth Festival of India

The most important aspect of Karva Chauth day is that a dawn to dusk fast is undertaken by the North Indian ladies which ends with the appearance of the moon. The fast is unique perhaps because nowhere in the world does a wife go without food or water just to pray for the longevity and well-being of her husband.

Karva Chauth festival, the big fasting day has turned into a full-fledged event in todays day and time. The occasion is growing bigger with each passing day. The Halwais, the Mehendi and Churiwallis have traditionally been busy on this auspicious day. But joining the bandwagon in recent times are the beauty parlour owners, the event managers and the restaurant owners.

Cashing in on the popularity of 'eating out' most restaurants have special menus for this special day. No wonder almost every happening-eating joint around town is offering plenty of attractive options to choose from. Various clubs organize special events on this festive day with stalls, tambola and even dance competitions. With so much feasting and fun added to it, fasting had never been so good before.

Karva Chauth 2010 will be observed on 26th October, Tuesday.

Gift Ideas for Durga Puja, Navratri, Dussehra

Indians may give different names and may have different customs defining the 10 day festival in the month of October/November, Dussehra, Navratri or Durga Puja but the underlying spirit of celebrations remains the same. The citizens of this country do not believe in holding back, the festivities are full of life with many colours and sounds spread all over.

One of the major attractions of these celebrations is the ritual of exchanging gifts with loved ones, family, friends and acquaintances. It is a canvas in which everyone takes part with loads of energy and enthusiasm. This is the reason that the Navratri gifts or Durga Puja gifts have to be very special and have to represent the liveliness of these occasions. Some such gift ideas are listed here.

Sweets / Mithais for Durga Puja and Navratri

Durga Maa Idols and Puja Thalis / Accessories

Decoratives for Durga Puja and Navratri

Flowers as Durga Puja gifts

Paintings for Navratri, Durga Puja

Door Hangings / Bandhanwar and Wall Hangings

Chaniya Choli and Dandiya Sticks

Diyas / Lamps and Lanterns

Perfumes for Durga Puja celebrations

Jewelry as gifts on Navratri and Durga Puja

Send Flowers to India, USA, UK and Worldwide

Every season is the season of flowers. They are the most versatile of all gift ideas. Expressing so many emotions in a beautiful and candid way, these are a sure shot way of winning everyone's heart. Varied colours, pleasurable aromas, delicate appearances make them a favourite among all.

When deciding on the best choice of a gift for any occasion, it is considered thoughtful to add flowers as an add on to the gift idea. In fact, even if you are at a loss of what to gift on an occasion, send flowers and and see how your simple gift idea makes you popular with your loved ones.

With the fast changing lifestyles and increasing distances among loved ones, the gesture of gifting has gained importance. The availability of services which can deliver gifts at the recipients doorstep with a smile and the message accompanying the present has made it so easy to bridge the gaps of time and distance.

Send flowers to India, USA, UK and Worldwide with a trusted gifting service only. The experience of exchanging a gift of flowers should only add to the positive and happy memories that enrich our lives.