Kathina Event At The Buddhapadipa Temple

Kathina is one of the two big festivals held at the Buddhapadipa temple. As usual, there were a lot of people who came to join us; some came to help the temple work, some came for Thai food, and some came for entertainment etc. All was great, it may be one or two times a year, they come to enjoy the Buddhist and Thai festival.

The festival was divided into two sessions;

Firstly in the morning about 10 am, there was an annual robe offering, kathina. Kathina is an important ceremony in Buddhism. It has been done since the Buddha’s time when the Buddha allowed a lay community to make new robes for Buddhist monks after their rainy season retreat. Since then it has become a popular event until present day; Buddhist people would like to offer new robes for monks who have just finished their rainy season retreat.

Secondly in the afternoon, starting about noon, there is entertainment and Thai traditional shows which people can enjoy and also there are food stalls for those visitors who wish to eat or taste Thai food for the first time.

The other festival on the day was Loykratong, the worshipping of water goddess, which Thai people derived from India in Sukhothai period. This festival has two meanings; one is to worship the water goddess, as through life, people make use of water, once a year they do ceremony to worship it. And another one is to float away bad luck and bring good luck to life.

The day went well with enjoyment and happiness, but maybe a little bit wet, as it sometimes rained. The festival ended, life is blessed and going on.