KATHINA CEREMONY

With the end of the three month Rains Retreat (about July to September), monks throughout the country are free to move from place to place and are eligble to receive new robes in annual presentation ceremony called “Kathina Dana”. Besides new robes, Buddhist literature, kitchen equipment, financial contribution and building materials e.g. nails, hand-saws and hammers etc. are also presented to monks on this occasion.

In fact, the word “Dana” means “making an  offering to the monk” and the word “Kathina” literary means the “embroidery frame” used in sewing the yellow robes which, in those days, were collected from rags on dead bodies in the jungles since clothes were not available in plenty as nowadays. Buddhist mert-making nest to the ordination of their close kin. Thus, once in their lifetime everybody is looking forward to having an opportunity to be the sponsor of Kathina ceremony as it involves a lot of time, manpower and expense. Above all, and advance booking must be made with the temple, otherwise, the chance to be a sole sponsor of the Kathina may not be possible especially with the reputable temples. Non-theless, those who fail to be the sole sponsor of Kathina can also take part in the ceremony which, in this type, is knowing as “Kathina Samakki” or United Kathina.

Sometimes a Kathina group will travel for several hundred kilometers by bus, train, boat or even by plane to present the Kathina robes and other necessities to monks in remote temples or other countries where Buddhist temples are established. People thus hold this merit-making festival not only for earing merit for themselves but also for enjoying a fun-filled holiday free from the dail hectic life full of stress and strain in the city. During the Kathina Dana period, it is very common to see Kathina processions traveling to and for throughout the country. In fact, anybody can take part in the evennt through the simple method of enclosing a small amount of money in thhe while envelope given by friends or relatives.

It is to be noted that Kathina Ceremony can be performed only once a year and only after the End of Buddhist Lent or Rains Retreat, in addition, while each temple is allowed to accept the Kathina robes only once time in a year.