In Bengal, Bhai Dooj is commonly called what?

In Bengal, Bhai Dooj is commonly called Bhai Phonta.

Bhai Phonta is the Bengali regional form of the broader Hindu festival known as Bhai Dooj or Bhratri Dwitiya. It is observed around the second lunar day after the new moon in the month of Kartika, usually shortly after Kali Puja in Bengal. Sisters traditionally place a ceremonial mark, or phonta, on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their health, safety, and long life.

The name is Bengali: bhai means “brother,” while phonta refers to the mark or dot applied during the ritual. Families commonly combine the ceremony with a festive meal, sweets, gifts, and blessings. The exact customs vary between households and communities.

Bhai Tika, Bhau Beej, and Bhai Jiuntia are not wrong as festival names in their own regions, but they are not Bengal’s customary name. Bhai Tika is especially associated with Nepal, Bhau Beej with western Indian communities, and Bhai Jiuntia with western Odisha.