Jayapataka Swami: The Minneapolis congregation organized the Panihati Cida-dahi Mahotsav today. So, I went to the festival venue, John F Kennedy High School, to participate in the event. During the event, I gave a class on the pastimes of Panihati Cida-dahi.
Raghunatha dasa was trying to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya without the mercy of Prabhu Nityananda. So Lord Nityananda told him that He will punish him. He put His lotus feet on the head of Raghunatha Dasa and punished him saying “Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.” The punishment that Lord Nityananda is giving is simply pure mercy and Raghunatha Dasa was very happy to receive this punishment from Lord Nityananda. Therefore this festival is also called as danda Mahotsava festival – the festival of punishment!
The devotees prepared beautifully decorated pots filled with various flavours of Cida-dahi, along with different dry preparations placed on top of them. I offered the Cida-dahi preparations to Their Lordships.
HH Jayapataka Swami , (29-5-23)