Bhai Tika  being observed today, Sisters offering tika and wishing for happiness, long life and prosperity  to their  brothers

October 29 :  The most significant day of Tihar, the festival of lights, is being marked today with sisters offering tika to their brothers.

Sisters throughout the country offer ‘tika’ to their brothers wishing them happiness, long life and prosperity on the occasion of Bhaitika.

In return the brothers pledge to protect their sisters from all kinds of adversities. The auspicious hour for offering the tika was 11:55 am this year. However, according to Chairman of National Calendar Determination Committee Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam, tika can be offered until sunset.

On this day, brothers are seated at a specially appointed place around which a trail of mustard oil is drawn. The sisters then offer the brothers tika and garlands of ‘Dubo’ and ‘Makhamali’.

After placing colorful tika on the foreheads of their brothers, sisters offer them a treat consisting varieties of sweets, walnut, spices and ‘Sel’, a special kind of bread cooked in oil.

Brothers also offer their sisters tika in return, wishing them happiness and good luck, and give them presents.