This Bhai Dooj quiz has 25 questions with answers about the story of Yama and Yamuna, the tilak ceremony and the festival’s many names across India and Nepal, plus 10 easy games for brothers and sisters. Bhai Dooj 2026 falls on Wednesday 11 November, the last day of the Diwali festivities, so the quiz and games are ready for the family get-together.
The answers follow the stories as they are usually told, and the dates come from Drik Panchang. Where regions tell the story differently, we say so. The questions are new, so they do not repeat our Diwali quiz questions or the Chhath Puja quiz.
Coming up next: Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Children's Day, Chhath Puja and Guru Nanak Jayanti
Diwali (Sunday 8 November)
Bhai Dooj (Wednesday 11 November)
Children's Day (Saturday 14 November)
- Children's Day quiz
- Children's Day drawing and coloring pages
- Children's Day worksheets
- Children's Day speech
Chhath Puja (Sunday 15 November)
- Chhath Puja quiz
- Chhath Puja drawing and coloring pages
- Chhath Puja wishes
- Why Chhath Puja is celebrated
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Tuesday 24 November)
Bhai Dooj quiz at a glance
Pick the rounds that suit your family. Little ones can stop after the easy round; older cousins can play all 25 questions in about 20 minutes, then move on to the games.
| Round | Questions | Best for | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1 to 8 | Ages 5 to 8 (KG to Class 3) | Tilak, sweets, brothers and sisters |
| Medium | 9 to 17 | Ages 9 to 11 (Classes 4 to 6) | Yama and Yamuna, Krishna and Subhadra |
| Hard | 18 to 25 | Ages 12 and up (Classes 7 and 8) | Regional names, Nepal’s Bhai Tika, calendar |
The story of Bhai Dooj in brief
Read this short story aloud before the quiz.
Yama, the god of death, had a twin sister called Yamuna (also called Yami), who later became the river Yamuna. She often invited her brother to visit, but he was always busy. At last, on the second day after the new moon of Kartik, Yama came to her home. Yamuna was overjoyed. She put a tilak on his forehead, did his aarti and served him a delicious meal.
Yama was so happy that he asked her to choose a gift. Yamuna asked that every year, on this day, brothers should visit their sisters. It is believed that Yama blessed her and said that a brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day will be protected. That is why the day is also called Yama Dwitiya.
Another popular story says that Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after defeating the demon Narakasura. Subhadra welcomed him with a lamp, flowers and sweets, and put a tilak on his forehead. Different regions tell these stories in slightly different ways.
Easy Bhai Dooj quiz for kids (ages 5 to 8)
These first eight questions are about what children see at home on the day. Accept close answers.
- Bhai Dooj celebrates the love between which family members?
Answer: Brothers and sisters - What does a sister put on her brother’s forehead on Bhai Dooj?
Answer: A tilak (tika), often of roli or kumkum and rice - What does “bhai” mean in Hindi?
Answer: Brother - Bhai Dooj comes at the end of which big festival of lights?
Answer: Diwali - What does a sister wave in front of her brother with a lit lamp on a plate?
Answer: Aarti - What does a brother usually give his sister on Bhai Dooj?
Answer: A gift or money (and a promise to look after her) - Which other festival, in the monsoon, also celebrates brothers and sisters with a thread?
Answer: Raksha Bandhan - What does a sister usually give her brother after the tilak?
Answer: Sweets and a special meal
Medium round: Bhai Dooj quiz questions on the stories (ages 9 to 11)
This round tests the stories above, so read them first.
- What does “dooj” mean in Bhai Dooj?
Answer: The second day (dwitiya), the second day of the bright half of Kartik - Which god is said to have visited his sister on the first Bhai Dooj?
Answer: Yama (Yamraj), the god of death - What was the name of Yama’s sister?
Answer: Yamuna (also called Yami) - Yama’s sister is linked with which river in India?
Answer: The Yamuna - Because of this story, Bhai Dooj is also called what?
Answer: Yama Dwitiya - Which sister of Lord Krishna welcomed him with a tilak after his victory?
Answer: Subhadra - Which demon had Krishna defeated just before visiting Subhadra?
Answer: Narakasura - Who is said to be the father of both Yama and Yamuna?
Answer: Surya, the Sun God - In most years, how many days after the main Diwali night does Bhai Dooj fall?
Answer: Two days (in 2026 it is three days, because of a gap day before Govardhan Puja)
Hard round: names and customs across India and Nepal (ages 12 and up)
The hard round of this Bhai Dooj quiz with answers covers the different names and customs. It suits older children and adult teams.
- What is Bhai Dooj called in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka?
Answer: Bhau Beej (Bhaubeej) - What is it called in West Bengal?
Answer: Bhai Phonta (Bhai Phota) - What is the festival called in Nepal?
Answer: Bhai Tika - Bhai Tika is the last day of which five-day festival in Nepal?
Answer: Tihar - How many colours are in the special tika sisters put on brothers in Nepal?
Answer: Seven (the saptarangi tika) - Which flower, which stays fresh for a long time, is made into garlands for brothers on Bhai Tika?
Answer: Makhamali (globe amaranth) - Which god, the record keeper of good and bad deeds, is also worshipped on Bhai Dooj in many North Indian homes?
Answer: Chitragupta (Chitragupta Puja, with a pen and inkpot) - Bhai Dooj is also celebrated after Holi in some places. True or false?
Answer: True. A smaller Holi Bhai Dooj is held in some regions; in 2026 it was on 5 March
Bhai Dooj across India
| Region | Name | One special custom |
|---|---|---|
| North India | Bhai Dooj, Bhaiya Dooj | Tilak and aarti; Chitragupta Puja in many homes |
| Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka | Bhau Beej | The brother sits on a low seat while his sister does aarti |
| West Bengal | Bhai Phonta | A sandalwood phonta (mark) is put on the brother’s forehead |
| Nepal | Bhai Tika | Seven-colour tika, makhamali garland, a circle of oil around the brother |
Bhai Dooj games for brothers and sisters
These Bhai Dooj games need nothing at all, or just paper and pencils. They work for two siblings or a big group of cousins. For more ideas, see our games for siblings.
- How well do you know me? Each sibling writes five answers about the other, such as favourite food, colour or cartoon. One point for each match.
- Childhood memory quiz. Parents ask questions about the siblings’ younger days: “Who broke the flower pot?” The sibling who remembers first wins.
- Mirror, mirror. One sibling makes slow actions and faces; the other copies them like a mirror. Swap after one minute.
- Two truths and a lie. Each person says three things about themselves. The other sibling guesses which one is the lie.
- Draw my sibling. Both draw each other in two minutes with a pencil. The family votes for the funniest portrait.
- Antakshari. Brothers against sisters. Sing a song that starts with the last letter of the other team’s song.
- Festival charades. Act out Diwali and Bhai Dooj words like “tilak”, “aarti”, “sweets” and “diya” without speaking. Our charades for kids has more words.
- Paper plane contest. Each sibling folds a paper plane. Whose plane flies the farthest wins the last sweet.
- Name, Place, Animal, Thing. Pick a letter, then race to write one word for each column on a sheet of paper.
- Compliment chain. Siblings take turns giving each other a kind compliment. Whoever repeats one or cannot think of one is out. A sweet way to end the day.
How to run the quiz at a family party
- Tell the story (3 minutes). An elder reads the Yama and Yamuna story aloud.
- Make teams. Brothers against sisters is the classic choice, or mix cousins of all ages.
- Play the rounds (15 minutes). Younger children answer the easy round; older ones take medium and hard.
- Mark as you go. Use this Bhai Dooj quiz as your answer key. Give one point per answer, and two for the hard round.
- Play two games. Choose any two of the games above, then serve the sweets.
In class, use the same plan the day before or after the holiday, and present Bhai Dooj as a festival some classmates celebrate.
Printable bhai dooj quiz (free PDF)
Print this bhai dooj quiz as a quiz sheet: every question from the rounds above with a line to write the answer, and a separate answer key for the quizmaster. The bhai dooj quiz PDF has 3 pages and prints on US Letter or A4.
Print at 100% (actual size). Every page is black and white line art, so it copies cleanly on a school printer.
Related guides and printables
- Bhai Dooj drawing and coloring pages: tilak, aarti thali, rangoli and more
- Games for siblings
- Diwali party games
- 60 Diwali quiz questions with answers
- Diwali worksheets
- Indoor games for kids at home
- Chhath Puja quiz
- Diwali and Bhai Dooj wishes for kids
Sources
- Bhai Dooj 2026 date: Drik Panchang (Wednesday 11 November 2026; Dwitiya tithi from 2:00 PM on 10 November to 3:53 PM on 11 November, New Delhi); Govardhan Puja on 10 November 2026
- Drik Panchang: Holi Bhai Dooj, Thursday 5 March 2026
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Diwali; Wikipedia: Bhai Dooj, with its cited sources, for regional names and stories
- All India Radio (News on AIR) and The Himalayan Times: Bhai Tika and Tihar customs in Nepal
Further reading: Bhai Dooj (Wikipedia) and Diwali (Wikipedia).
Frequently asked questions
8 quick answers
When is Bhai Dooj in 2026?
Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday 11 November 2026, according to Drik Panchang. Diwali is on Sunday 8 November and Govardhan Puja on Tuesday 10 November, so in 2026 there is a gap day between Diwali and Govardhan Puja.
What is the best time for the Bhai Dooj tilak in 2026?
Drik Panchang gives the Aparahna (afternoon) time in New Delhi as 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM on 11 November 2026. Timings change by city, so check your local panchang.
What are some easy Bhai Dooj quiz questions for kids?
Try: Who does Bhai Dooj celebrate? (Brothers and sisters). What does a sister put on her brother’s forehead? (A tilak). What is Yama’s sister called? (Yamuna). What is it called in Nepal? (Bhai Tika).
What games can brothers and sisters play on Bhai Dooj?
Try “How well do you know me?”, mirror, mirror, antakshari, festival charades or a paper plane contest. All ten games above need no props or only paper.
Why is Bhai Dooj also called Yama Dwitiya?
It is believed that Yama visited his sister Yamuna on this day, the dwitiya (second day) of Kartik’s bright half, and blessed brothers who receive a tilak from their sisters.
Can sisters celebrate Bhai Dooj if their brother lives far away?
Yes. Many families do the tilak and aarti over a video call, and brothers and sisters send each other sweets or a small gift by post.
What age is this Bhai Dooj quiz for?
The easy round of the Bhai Dooj quiz suits children from about five years old, and the harder rounds suit older brothers and sisters. Play the Bhai Dooj quiz after the tilak, together with the sibling games.
How many days after Diwali is Bhai Dooj 2026?
Three days. In most years Bhai Dooj comes two days after the main Diwali night, but in 2026 there is a gap day before Govardhan Puja, so it falls on Wednesday 11 November.
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