Nityananda Trayodasi

"Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the Lord of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, appeared in the village of Ekacakra. His father was a brahmana named Hadai Pandita and his mother was Srimati Padmavati Devi. From His early childhood, Sri Nityananda Prabhu had a serene disposition and was highly intelligent. He was a reservoir of excellence. His charming beauty overshadowed the attractiveness of millions upon millions of Cupids. From the time of Nityananda's birth, everything became auspicious in the district of Radha. Famine, poverty and all kinds of disturbances were totally dispelled. On the day of Lord Chaitanya's appearance in Nabadwip, Sri Nityananda, Who was still in Radha, roared with jubilation. The sound of that roar filled the universe and robbed everyone of his senses. Some people speculated, "It must be a thunderclap." Others thought it was the sound of some impending disaster. Still, others said, "We know the reason for this sound. Lord Nityananda, the Lord of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, is roaring in ecstasy."

Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi Lila, Chapter 9

Nityananda Trayodasi is a celebration of the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. Nityananda prabhu is the most intimate associate of Lord Caitanya. Nitai-Gaura are worshipped together much like Krsna and Balarama.

Nityananda Trayodasi usually occurs in February. The devotees fast until noon, being immersed in the pastimes of Nityananda. After performing abhiseka for the Gaura Nitai Deities, a lively kirtan and sumptuous feast are offered in Nityananda's honor, for the Lord's pleasure.

Throughout the Caitanya-caritamrta, we read of Nityananda's ecstatic sankirtan pastimes throughout Bengal and Orissa, where he sometimes traveled alone as an avadhuta preacher, and sometimes as the companion of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His traveling party. Together, Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu enjoyed many ecstatic prasadam pastimes, and Nityananda was renowned for enthusiastically consuming immense quantities of Krsna prasadam.

In honor of the transcendental personality, Sri Nityananda, we offer an eclectic feast that attempts to reflect Nityananda's fiery preaching mood, His sometimes unexpected and astonishing activities, and his zeal for harinam sankirtana.

A hearty Kabli Dal provides robust nourishment of chickpeas in savoury buttermilk, to energize the devotees with the sankirtana mood. Chenna Pakora Rice is pungent and sweet alongside. The Sankirtana Naan is typical of the long-lasting bread preachers like Nityananda might have carried on their travels.

A Saag Paneer with Pear adds unexpected sweetness to the spicy greens. Devotees always love to see that Gauranga Potatoes are included among the offered foodstuffs. Here, they go nicely with Stuffed Brussel Sprouts, where the little gobhis are filled with sweet but tart saffron cream.

We think of the beautiful image of Gaura-Nitai dancing together, hands upraised in ecstasy, while preparating the Gaura-Nitai Twists, where blueberry, ginger and cumin meet up with a saffron gold. The two are fried together in a savoury twisted bread.

Another savoury joins the menu in the form of Chana Tikka, a pungent fried patty that goes very well with the Simla Mirch, a sour green pepper sabji.

Phajeto Mango Khadi is an unusual yoghurt-based dish that's somewhere between a chutney and raita. In honor of Nityananda's beautiful blue-clad person, we've created Blueberry Chenna Chatni Bowls, which are thumb-sized bowls of sweet dough lined with chenna that are fried, then filled with blueberry chutney.

The sweet is Bargi Kheer, a nectar pudding in which broken pieces of vermicelli float about, reminiscent of the pastime in which Nityananda broke Caitanya Mahaprabhu's danda into three pieces and tossed it into the River Bargi.

A Spicy Pineapple Punch beverage completes the feast, which we hope is fittingly sumptuous for Sri Nityananda Prabhu.