Hello my friends, today I will tell you about another tradition of my country called Kathin robe offering. It is a ritual of Thai Buddhists that is considered a great merit. It is held after the end of Buddhist Lent. The period for doing so is within 1 month. After the end of Buddhist Lent, it cannot be done before or after this specified time. The tradition of Kathin robe offering has been around since the time of the Buddha.
For Kathin robe offering, there must be a host. At Wat Khanon, where I live, there are people who have been queuing up for many years to be the host. The host collects money by giving out envelopes for Kathin robe offering to those who want to make merit and collects the money. Go to buy the necessary things used in the Kathin ceremony, which are:
- Tri-robes or Tri-krong (Kathin body)
- Tri-robes (prayer pair)
- Tri-robes and blue glass tray
- Monk's alms bowl
- Bag
- Shoes
- Monk's personal belongings
- Kathin fan
- Patong fan stand
- Sapdan
- Kathin flag, fish flag, crocodile flag
- National flag, Dharmachakra flag
- Patimokkha candle
- Monk's bed
- Broom
- and others as the host wants to offer
Before the ceremony, the items or what is called the Kathin body will be paraded around the temple 3 times, just like a procession for a monk ordination. Then, the items will be performed in a religious ceremony and given to the monks. We believe that those who make merit in the Kathin ceremony will receive the following benefits:
Becoming wealthy and having a lot of assets and easily achieving success in their careers, making them have a cheerful, pure and clear mind at all times, making them have a steady mind, can concentrate and easily access the Dhamma, and are known as people who can use their wealth to create merit that will take them with them to the next life to the fullest. Makes you a beautiful person, beautiful skin, loved by everyone, makes you famous and worthy of praise.
At Wat Khanon, there are villagers who bring food to sell to those who come to make merit to eat for free. Every year, there are many shops and many people who come to the event. I like to make merit and walk around, choose delicious food to eat. I get both merit and a full stomach. And it is considered a great annual merit.