In the Bengali community, Bhai Dooj is known as Bhai Phonta, which translates to a dot (tilak) made from the paste of holy sandalwood, vermillion, rice grain, or curd which is applied on the brothers’ foreheads

India’s festive season doesn’t end with Durga Pujo and Diwali, because Bhai Dooj, or Bhai Phonta, is another significant festival that usually takes place two days after Diwali. This year, Bhai Dooj, or Bhai Phonta, is on Thursday, October 23. Ahead of the festival, we have brought to you a unique poem from West Bengal that sisters recite while putting a tilak or phonta on their brothers’ foreheads.

Bhai Phonta

Similar to Bhai Dooj, Bhai Phota is a day when sisters pray for their brothers' well-being. In Bengal, the tilak is made from a wide variety of ingredients, such as sandalwood paste, homemade kohl (kajal), curd, ghee, cow dung, dew drops, vermillion, and rice grain. The mixture of tilak varies from household to household; in some families, all ingredients are used, whereas in others, only a few are used.

Apart from putting the tilak on brothers’ foreheads, sisters also bless their brothers by placing dhaan (paddy seeds) and durba (doob grass) on the head. In return for the gesture, younger brothers touch their sisters’ feet, whereas elder brothers shower their sisters with love and respect by blessing them.

(Credit- Indiahood)

However, another important part of the celebration of Bhai Phonta takes place among the Bengali community as part of the rituals: a poem is chanted thrice while applying the tilak.

‘Bhai’er Kopale Dilam Phonta’

The verse is:

"Bhai’er kopale dilam phota, Jomer duare porlo kanta,  

Yamuna dey Jom ke phota,  

Ami di amar bhai ke phota."  

The verse loosely translates to “As I place this tilak on my brother’s forehead, I pray for his immortality. Just as Yamuna marked Yama's forehead with this tilak, I do the same for my brother.”

(Credit- Tales of Sanatan)

The legend behind

There are several fascinating tales attached to Bhai Phonta and the verse. One of them is that Yamuna invited her brother Yama, the God of Death, to her home on several occasions, but he never accepted the invitation and never visited. Finally, one day, Yama showed up on Yamuna’s doorstep, which was the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

An overjoyed Yamuna put the tilak on Yama’s forehead, fed him delicious meals and sweets, and when Yama was about to leave, Yamuna gave him a boon. She wished that the day be celebrated to mark the bonding between brothers and sisters and also prayed for Yama’s immortality.

Now that you know the story, if you have a Bengali friend, you consider your brother, you can recite this poem while putting a tilak on his forehead during this Bhai Phota.