The bond of brother and sister; the afternoon tika.
Wednesday, 11 November 2026·Kartik Shukla Dwitiya·Mumbai, Maharashtra
Sister applies the tika and prays for the brother's long life.
Tika and celebrations if the Aparahna window can't be kept.
The fifth and final day of Diwali celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. Sisters apply a tika and pray for their brothers' long life; brothers offer gifts and protection. It closes the festival on a note of family bonds.
A day of sibling affection and protection, and - through the Yama–Yamuna story - a prayer for the brother's longevity and the sister's well-being.
To honour the brother–sister bond, to seek Yama's blessing of long life, and to gather families after the intensity of Diwali.
After slaying Narakasura, Krishna visited his sister Subhadra, who welcomed him with a tika and sweets. More centrally, Yama, the god of death, visited his sister Yamuna on this day; she honoured him with a tika and a feast, and he granted that any brother receiving a tika from his sister today would be freed from fear of untimely death - hence 'Yama Dwitiya'.
The Aparahna (afternoon) muhurat shown above for your location.
Because Yama visited his sister Yamuna on this Dwitiya; a brother who receives his sister's tika today is blessed with long life.
Traditionally the tika can be sent, or the sister honours the moon or a photograph; the intent and prayer are what matter.