Bhai Dooj 2027: Date, Tithi, Muhurta & Significance
In 2027, Bhai Dooj falls on Sunday, 31 October 2027.
History & Mythology
Two days after Diwali, Yama, lord of death, finally accepted his sister Yamuna's long-standing invitation and came to her home. She bathed him, marked his forehead with tilak, garlanded him, and fed him with her own hands. Moved, Yama granted that any brother who receives his sister's tilak on this day shall not fear untimely death — and that the river Yamuna's waters would free those who bathe in them on Bhai Dooj.
A parallel telling brings Krishna to his sister Subhadra's door fresh from slaying Narakasura; her aarti and tilak of welcome are the festival's other origin. Bhai Dooj — Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, Bhai Phota in Bengal and Assam — closes the five days of Diwali the way Raksha Bandhan opens the festive half of the year: with the bond of brother and sister, renewed with rice, roli, and sweets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these with the Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year, and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the two. This is why Diwali, Navratri and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing Shukla Paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna Paksha. Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi, which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika computes the precise muhurta for each festival from your local sunrise, Tithi end times and auspicious Nakshatras.
What are Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full-moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha), when Moon and Sun are 180° apart; Amavasya is the new-moon day, when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant — Purnima for celebrations, Amavasya for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpan).