Panchangam 11 November 2026 (Wednesday): Bhai Dooj, Yama Dwitiya, Chitragupta Puja and Chandra Darshana, Tithi and Puja Vidhi

Quick answer: Wednesday 11 November 2026 is Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya), the last day of the Diwali festival, with Chitragupta Puja and Chandra Darshana. In Hyderabad, Shukla Dwitiya runs until 03:53 PM; the nakshatra is Anuradha until 11:38 AM, then Jyeshtha. Sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life; brothers promise their care in return.

Diwali ends the way it began: with family. After lamps for Lakshmi and offerings for Krishna, the last day belongs to brothers and sisters. It goes by many names: Bhai Dooj and Bhaiya Dooj in the North, Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, Bhai Phonta in Bengal, and Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Our Bhai Dooj 2026 guide has the full story and tika vidhi; here is the day's panchang and a simple plan.

Today's Panchang (Hyderabad)

Source: Drik Panchang day panchang for Hyderabad, IST. The yoga is Atiganda until 03:40 AM on 12 November. For Rahu Kalam and the tilak muhurat in your city, check a local panchang.

Religious significance

Yama and Yamuna

The story usually told is that Yama, the lord of death, visited his sister Yamuna (the river goddess) on this Dwitiya after a long separation. She welcomed him with a tilak, a garland and a meal cooked by her own hands. Moved, Yama granted a boon: any brother who visits his sister on this day and receives her hospitality will be blessed. That is why the day is called Yama Dwitiya, and why bathing in the Yamuna at Mathura on this day is a well-known custom. The story is a popular tradition, retold differently in different regions.

Chitragupta Puja

Chitragupta, who keeps the account of every soul's deeds for Yama, is worshipped today, particularly in the Kayastha community, along with pens, ink and books. Read our Chitragupta Puja 2026 guide.

Chandra Darshana

Chandra Darshana is the first sighting of the moon after the new moon. Seeing the slender crescent and offering a prayer or a little water to it is considered auspicious. In Hyderabad the crescent sets at 07:03 PM, about eighty minutes after sunset.

Puja vidhi: the Bhai Dooj tilak

• Preparation: the sister prepares a plate (thali) with roli or kumkum, rice grains, a lamp, a sweet and a coconut or dry fruit if available.
• Tilak (essential): the brother sits facing east or north, often with a cloth over his head; the sister applies the tilak, places a few rice grains on it, performs a small aarti and offers the sweet, praying for his long life and wellbeing.
• Meal (essential in many regions): the brother eats a meal cooked or served by his sister; in the Telugu states this is the heart of Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam.
• Gift: the brother gives his sister a gift and his blessing or promise of support.
• Evening (optional): a lamp for Yama and Yamuna, and Chandra Darshana after sunset.

No materials? A sister can place a dot of kumkum or even sandalwood on her brother's forehead, feed him one sweet and say a prayer for him. Distance does not cancel the bond: a video call and a tilak applied to his photograph, or a prayer said for him at the home shrine, is a sincere observance.

Mantra for the day

Om Yamaya Namah (IAST: oṃ yamāya namaḥ). Meaning: "Om, salutations to Yama." Yama is the first of the names honoured in the traditional Yama tarpanam of Diwali week. Here he is remembered not with fear but as Dharmaraja, the just lord, and as a loving brother. Chant it 11 times while lighting the evening lamp, praying for the long life of your siblings.

What you can do today

• Sisters: prepare the tilak thali in the morning and, where possible, do the tilak before 03:53 PM (Hyderabad).
• Brothers: visit your sister, eat the meal she serves, and bring a gift chosen with care.
• If you live far apart, schedule a video call and do the tilak together on screen.
• Remember cousins and friends who are like siblings, and anyone who has no sibling to visit.
• Offer a pen and notebook at the shrine for Chitragupta Puja if that is your custom.
• Look west after the 05:41 PM sunset for the first crescent moon.
• Plan ahead: Nagula Chavithi is on Friday 13 November and the first Karthika Somavaram on Monday 16 November.

For families and children

Bhai Dooj is a gentle day to teach children that love is shown through care, not just gifts. Let younger siblings prepare a card or a drawing for each other and do the tilak themselves with adult help. Explain the story of Yama and Yamuna simply: a brother who was always busy, and a sister who never stopped waiting for him.

Hindus abroad: today's sunrise, tithi and nakshatra

Local sunrise, sunset, and the tithi and nakshatra at local sunrise on 11 November 2026.

Computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day — follow your temple's panchang. All times in this table are local clock times for each city.

In New York and Toronto, Tritiya already prevails at local sunrise, so temples there may have listed Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. See our Bhai Dooj guides for the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and UAE.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bhai Dooj on 11 November 2026?

Yes. In India Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) is on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Kartika Shukla Dwitiya prevails at sunrise and ends at 03:53 PM IST in Hyderabad.

What is the best time for the Bhai Dooj tilak?

Many families prefer the afternoon (aparahna) while Dwitiya is still in force, which in Hyderabad means before 03:53 PM. The exact recommended window varies by city, so check a local panchang; if you cannot manage that, a tilak given with love at any time today is still a blessing.

What is Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam?

It is the Telugu name for the day: brothers visit their sisters and eat a meal served by the sister's own hand (bhagini = sister, hasta = hand, bhojanam = meal), and give her gifts in return.

What is Chitragupta Puja?

Chitragupta, the divine keeper of the record of every soul's deeds and Yama's scribe, is worshipped on Yama Dwitiya, especially by the Kayastha community, along with pen, ink and account books (Kalam-Dawat Puja).

When can I see the moon for Chandra Darshana?

In Hyderabad the sun sets at 05:41 PM and the moon sets at 07:03 PM, so a thin crescent may be visible low in the western sky in between, weather permitting.

A closing thought

The Diwali lamps go out one by one, but the bond between brother and sister keeps its own light. May every sibling, near or far, be blessed with long life and happiness.

Editor's note

Editor's note (9 October 2026): Panchang timings and festival observances can vary by location, regional calendar and family tradition. This guide follows Drik Panchang for Hyderabad (IST). Please verify local puja timings with a trusted panchang or priest.

Related guides

• Previous day: Panchangam 10 November 2026 (Govardhan Puja)
• Next day: Panchangam 12 November 2026 (Thursday)
• November 2026 Hindu festival calendar
• Bhai Dooj 2026: date, story and tika vidhi
• Bhai Phonta 2026 in Bengal
• Telugu Deepavali 2026: from Naraka Chaturdashi to Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam
• Karthika Masam 2026 calendar day by day