Unique Kathina Offering Ceremony of the Khmer People

The Kathina offering ceremony is a unique cultural tradition of the Khmer people, reflecting beautiful aspirations in their lives. Join Mytour in exploring this distinctive festival in the Southwest!

Unique Kathina Offering Ceremony of the Khmer People

Every year, the Kathina offering ceremony is organized from the 15th of the 9th lunar month to the 15th of the 10th lunar month. Specifically, it takes place after 3 months of the rainy season retreat and before the Ok Om Bok festival. After the harvest season, it is the time for offering flowers.

For those following Primitive Buddhism (Southern Buddhism or Lesser Vehicle Buddhism), the Kathina offering ceremony holds great significance. It expresses the benevolence of Buddhist practitioners in supporting the monastic community and brings immense joy during the festive season for Buddhists at home.

“Kathina” in the canonical language of Southern Buddhism used for scripture copying and recitation means solidity and firmness. The Kathina offering ceremony of Khmer Buddhists bestows many merits, and the recipients of the robes, the monks, find fulfillment in their spiritual practice.

Offerings presented at the ceremony go beyond traditional items like ceremonial robes, the most significant item to commemorate the ritual established by the Buddha. Also, there are offering bowls for monks' daily activities, meditation, writing, and various daily necessities in the temple such as medicine, food, and household items.

Rituals in the Kathina robe-offering ceremony

– Parade: Buddhist followers will parade in decorated floats along the streets.

– Kathina robe-offering words: During the ceremony, all followers will circumambulate the main hall three times, then gather in the main hall to express their gratitude and make offerings. The attendees, seated around the venerable monk, and novices will present Kathina robes, carrying out the main ceremony in the temple. After reciting the Three Jewels, Venerable Thach Ha will transmit the Triple Refuge and the Five Precepts to the followers. Subsequently, the monks will recite blessings, directing the merits to each devoted follower participating in the event.

– Offering flowers: Subsequently, followers will present flowers to the monks along with daily items such as food, medicine, etc., expressing sincere devotion to the grand ceremony.

The Kathina robe-offering ceremony is a ritual rich in the traditional cultural essence of the Khmer community, alongside signifying the benevolence of Buddhist followers towards supporting the monastic community. It also holds the significance of wishing for the village's prosperity, providing warmth and peace to families, praying for favorable weather, and fostering a joyful atmosphere for both followers and the local community.

Guidelines for Festival Participation

– Given the solemn nature of the festival, it is advisable to dress modestly and in dark colors to demonstrate respect for this grand event.

– During the ceremony, maintaining order is crucial to avoid disruptions that may diminish the solemnity of the occasion.

– When participating in the festival, visitors are reminded to maintain cleanliness, refraining from littering haphazardly to preserve the aesthetic beauty of the temple.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour