Kathina, today, is celebrated as the largest alms giving festival of the Buddhist world. The tradition of collecting cloth at the end of the Rains Retreat continues till date. From the time the vassa comes to an end to the four weeks that follows, supporters can make an offering of cloth to the Sangha. The Sangha, themselves, cannot go about seeking cloth, so the offering has to come from the lay people themselves. Given the fact that the festival holds so much of significance in the life of the Buddhist, it hardly happens that cloth is not offered or falls short for the ceremony.
On the day of the festival, people begin to pour in large numbers in the monastery. By 10.30 in the morning, the sangha is served a meal, the remainder of which is consumed by the rest of the people. At around 1 pm, the ceremonial offreing of the cloth takes place. A representative of the lay people leads the group and announces the offering, which is then presented to two monks who have been selected by the Sangha. The monks, thereafter, announce the name of one senior monk who will receive the robe once it is made up.
After this, the bhikkus get together to make up the robe. The entire cutting and sewing has to be completed before the dawn of the next day. When the robe is completed, the formal Kathina offering ceremony takes place.The Celebration TimeThe celebration of the Kathina festival takes place during the months of October and November. The date of the festival varies from one country to another depending upon the rainy season.
The festival is most important for the Burmese, Sri Lankans and the Thai Theravada Buddhists
from:http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/buddhist-festivals/kathina-ceremony.html
All money from this donations will preparing for New project "New Temple"
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