KATHINA ROD OFFERING CEREMONY

KATHINA YEAR OFFERING CEREMONY – TRADITIONAL CULTURAL FEATURE OF THE SOUTHERN KhMER COMMUNITY The Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony is one of the biggest and most important holidays of the Theravada Buddhist sect. This is the only Buddhist ceremony that dates back to the time when Buddha was still alive. Every year, between September 15 and October 15 of the lunar calendar, the Khmer people of the Southern region bustlingly organize the Kathina ceremony, also known as the Cotton Offering Ceremony or the Sassana Offering Ceremony. The Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony is a ceremony imbued with the traditional culture of the Khmer people held to pray for peace in the family, for family peace, for favorable weather and to respectfully offer robes and other items to the monks. In addition, the Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony also carries a very great meaning, both demonstrating the kindness of Buddhists towards protecting the Sangha, and creating a joyful atmosphere for Buddhists, for phum, and squirrels.  According to regulations, the Kathina robe offering ceremony is held after 3 months of summer retreat and before the Ooc - Om - Boc ceremony. The abbots of the pagoda will set a specific date and then notify Buddhists in the phum and squirrels to proceed with the organization. Upon receiving the notice, each care group will have from 01 to 03 families together to organize and mobilize other families to participate to encourage Buddhists to practice the great act of alms giving and to be grateful for the merits of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), and to be grateful for the merits of Buddhists upholding the Dharma. Regarding items offered for this Ceremony, in addition to traditional offerings such as robes (the most important item in the Ceremony to commemorate the ritual made by Buddha), alms bowls for monks to beg for alms, notebooks, pens, etc., there are also other daily necessities and items needed in the temple such as medicine, food,... to express gratitude and express sharing in difficulties with monks. Buddhists prepare offerings very solemnly, offering offerings to the head to show respect to the Three Jewels and make offerings to the monks. Normally, the Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony takes place in 2 days. On the first day, families organize groups of Buddhists (including a sand drum dance team, Hanuman monkeys, monks wearing an effigy of a god or a certain deity in legend, horses, etc.) to collect money, including offering silver flowers (offering a flower tree with money, called a money tree or offering a tree with gold or silver leaves) to buy items to offer to the monks. The contribution of each family and each person is not mandatory, depending on generosity. Then they invited monks to chant sutras and pray for peace for the homeowner and residents in the phum and squirrel. On the second day, organize a Kathina procession around your hamlet. Accompanying the Kathina procession are the Sa Dam drum dance team, the Ro hash team, Hanuman monkeys,... and young women and Buddhists lining up in two rows to process flowers, yellow leaves, silver leaves and other important offerings towards the temple. After that, the monks worshiped Buddha 3 times around the main hall of the temple and performed the Kathina Robe Offering ceremony at the main hall including: Refuge Ceremony of the Three Jewels; Lecture on the meaning of the Kathina Clothing Offering Ceremony; Kathina Robing Ceremony; Chanting prayers for peace, blessings, dedication, and completion. In addition, to add to the solemnity, local authorities also support pagodas to organize folk sports festivals, organize parachute singing, and traditional art performances to serve people for nighttime entertainment. The Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony is the pride and wish of every Khmer family and clan, expressing respect and devotion to Buddhism; contributing to preserving and honoring the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation, strengthening solidarity between monks and Buddhists in the village./.