Bhai Dooj closes the five days of Diwali with a celebration of brothers and sisters. Sisters apply a tilak of kumkum and rice on their brothers’ foreheads, perform a small aarti, pray for their long life, and share sweets; brothers give gifts and promise to protect their sisters. When siblings live in different cities or countries, a card carries that bond across the distance. This 5 x 7 inch card is designed for a sister to send to her brother, and it adapts easily for brothers writing to sisters.
A Card Built Around the Tilak Thali
The heart of the design is the tilak thali, the plate a sister prepares for the ritual. It sits inside a soft cream circle with a gold ring and a fine dashed inner ring, like a plate on a festive tablecloth. On the brass thali are a lit diya in the centre, a small bowl of red kumkum, a bowl of rice, two orange sweets, and scattered marigold petals. The flame glows softly above the plate.
Under the circle, Happy is written in rose Parisienne script and BHAI DOOJ in spaced Cinzel capitals, followed by a gold divider and a four-line message in Lora italic. The sister’s sign-off, With love, Isha, sits in script, and a band of mango leaves and marigolds runs along the bottom edge, turned upward like a garland on a doorstep. The Office Templates Online mark sits small in the top right corner.
Bhai Dooj in 2026
Bhai Dooj falls on the second day after the new moon of Diwali. In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, and published calendars give Bhai Dooj as Tuesday, November 10, or Wednesday, November 11, depending on the region and the panchang followed. Check with your family or a local calendar for the exact day and the auspicious time for the tilak. The festival has regional names too: Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, Bhai Phonta in Bengal, and Bhai Tika in Nepal.
Writing a Message to Your Brother
The sample message reads: To my dearest brother, thank you for every laugh, every fight, and every time you had my back. May you always be happy and healthy. It mixes affection with a little humour, which is how most siblings talk. A few other messages that fit the four-line space:
- Miles apart but never far from my heart. I am putting a tilak on your photo today and saving your share of the sweets.
- To my first best friend and forever protector. May this year bring you every success you deserve.
- Thank you for always taking the blame and never taking the last laddoo. Love you, bhaiya.
- To my little brother, who is not so little anymore. I am proud of you every single day.
Adapting the Card
| Sending from | Change the message to | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sister to brother | Keep the sample or choose from the list above | With love, your name |
| Brother to sister | Thank you for every tilak, every prayer, and every bit of advice I did not take | Your brother, name |
| Sister to sister | Many families also celebrate sisters on Bhai Dooj; thank her for being your constant | Love always, name |
| Cousins | To my brother in every way but birth | Your sister, name |
| Parents to their children | May your bond always stay this strong | Mummy and Papa |
For a brother-to-sister card, you may also want to change BHAI DOOJ to HAPPY BHAI DOOJ, DIDI, or add the sister’s name.
Editing the Bhai Dooj Card
- Click the message and type your own four lines, pressing Enter where you want lines to break.
- Click With love, Isha and type your sign-off.
- Recolour the card if you like: click the blush background to change it, and select the thali, the circle, or the border to adjust colours.
- Download as PDF for printing or as PNG to send digitally.
Sending the Card Across the Distance
For siblings far apart, many families perform a virtual tilak over a video call, with the sister applying tilak to her brother’s photo. Send this card as a PNG image on WhatsApp on Bhai Dooj morning, then call. If you post a printed card, send it a week before the festival so it arrives in time, and tuck in a small packet of kumkum and rice so your brother can do the tilak himself.
Printing the Tilak Thali Card
Download a PDF and print on 5 x 7 inch card stock of around 300 gsm, or print two per US Letter sheet and trim. The blush background prints well on home inkjet printers. Use full bleed at a print shop, since the leaf border touches the bottom edge. An A7 envelope in gold or rose completes it.
Gift Ideas to Send With the Card
- A box of his favourite sweets.
- A personalised keychain, wallet or watch.
- A framed childhood photo of the two of you.
- A handwritten list of your favourite memories together.
Bhai Dooj Card Questions
Can I add a photo of us?
Replace the thali with a circle shape from the Elements panel inside the cream circle and use Replace Image to add a sibling photo.
Can I write the greeting in Hindi?
Yes. Change BHAI DOOJ to ??? ??? using a Devanagari font such as Yatra One or Rozha One from the font menu.
Can I use the card for Raksha Bandhan?
The design suits Raksha Bandhan as well; change the title and the tilak thali message to mention rakhi.
Preparing the Tilak Thali at Home
If you are celebrating in person, the thali on the card is also a checklist. Place a small diya in the centre, a bowl of kumkum or roli, a bowl of akshat (unbroken rice), a few sweets, a coconut or dry fruits, flowers, and a glass of water. Some families add a betel leaf, a silver coin, or a small gift. Sit your brother facing east or north, as many families prefer, apply the tilak, perform the aarti, and share the sweets.
Celebrate the Sibling Bond
Write a few honest lines to your brother, add your name, and send the card on Bhai Dooj. A tilak may wash off, but a card he can keep on his desk lasts all year.
