Festival of Nityananda Trayodashi at ISKCON Bangalore on Feb 5th 2012 - By: ISKCON bangalore

After Lord Krishna appeared in Navadvipa as Lord Chaitanya, Lord Balarama joined Him incarnating as Lord Nityananda. To commemorate this event, Nityananda Trayodasi - a festival glorifying the appearance of Lord Nityananda, is celebrated this year in a grand manner on 5th February, 2012. A large number of devotees assemble at the Radha-Krishna mandir on Hare Krishna Hill to celebrate the festival. The festival is celebrated at two venues – the Kalyani (pond) and at the main temple hall.
To coincide with this auspicious occasion, ISKCON Bangalore inaugurated its second Panchajanya vehicle - a mini bus to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books, etc., across the city.
Many devotees assemble at the Kalyani in the evening to be blessed with the darshan of Lord Nityananda and witness the Pallakki utsava and the Teppotsava. After that the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai-Gauranga (Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda) are brought to the Kalyani in a pallakki. Devotees participated in kirtans and danced as the pallakki makes its way to the Kalyani.
As the pallakki reached the Kalyani at 6:30 pm, the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai Gauranga are placed in the boat. Elated devotees indulged in singing melodious bhajans and kirtans. The Deities are taken around the Kalyani for three rounds in the boat. The devotees offered flowers to the Deities to seek their blessings during the first round, on the second and third rounds prasadam is distributed to all the assembled devotees
As the nauka utsava (boat festival) concluded, the Deities are taken on pallakkis to the main temple altar at 7:00 pm. Before the abhisheka is performed, there is Svasti Puja and Guru Puja, followed by Maha Sankalpa and Dhyana Mantras. The abhisheka is very special as the Deities are bathed with scented water, etc., and given a sandal oil massage. After the massage the Deities are bathed with panchagavya which is a combination of milk, curd, sweetened water, ghee and honey. The Deities are then given Sarvaushadhi Snana followed by 108 kalasha snana and then bathed with herbal extracts, scented water, exotic fruit juices, flowers, etc. This abhisheka is performed once in a year, on the occasion of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi.
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa and Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa - the President and Vice President of the temple respectively, performed the abhisheka along with other devotees.
There is a special video presentation for the devotees in which Srila Prabhupada spoke about the auspicious occasion. The main temple hall reverberated with the sweet melodies of bhajans and kirtans as the special shayana-arati is performed on the day. After the shayana-arati a decorated palanquin is brought to the altar and the pujaris placed the Deities of Lord Nitai Gauranga on the palanquin. Their Lordships are taken round the main altar thrice, amidst the tumultuous sankirtana. Visitors and devotees also followed the palanquin of Their Lordships.
The Pallakki utsava culminates in a grand arati to the Deities in the palanquin. Tambula and flowers are offered to Their Lordships during this time. This is followed by a sumptuous prasadam feast for all the assembled devotees.

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