The Kathina ceremony is an annual Buddhist festival at the end of the Vassa or rainy season retreat. The ceremony is an opportunity for laypeople to make offerings of new robes and other requisites to the monastic community. This act of generosity is believed to bring great merit to the laypeople who participate in it.
The Kathina ceremony is typically held in October or November, depending on the country and tradition. It is usually organized by laypeople, who invite the monastic community to their temple or local community center. The ceremony begins with a procession of the monastics, led by the most senior monk. The lay community offers new robes and other necessities such as food, medicine, and other needs.
The robes offered during the Kathina ceremony are traditionally made from cotton or silk and are sewn by the laypeople in preparation for the ceremony. The robes are presented to the monastics in a formal ceremony, which includes reciting prayers and chanting sutras. The monastics then formally accept the robes and other requisites and offer their gratitude to the lay community.
In addition to offering robes, the Kathina ceremony also includes offering food and other necessities to the monastic community. The ceremony is an opportunity for laypeople to support the monastics in their practice and to make offerings to the Triple Gem.
The Kathina ceremony is an important event in the Buddhist calendar. It is an opportunity for laypeople to support the monastic community and to make offerings to the Triple Gem. It also allows laypeople to reflect on the importance of generosity and develop their spiritual practice. Many lay people see it as a way of showing gratitude to the monastic community who, by dedicating their lives to the practice of Buddhism, provide guidance and support for the lay community.
