The colors of the Kathina ceremony of the Khmer people

Every year, after three months of retreat, at the Khmer pagoda in Tay Ninh, many festivals with strong folk culture and Southern Buddhist beliefs begin to take place, such as Xuat Ha ceremony, Ok Om Bok and especially the Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony. This is an occasion for Buddhists to offer robes to monks after three months of retreat, expressing their pure sincerity to the Triple Gem and also an occasion for families to let their children become monks to show filial piety.

The monks go to perform the ceremony.

The Kathina robe offering ceremony (also known as the Flower Offering or Kasaya Offering ceremony) of the Khmer people is held to pray for peace in the village and hamlet, family safety, and favorable weather, while respectfully offering robes and other items for monks.

During the Kathina ceremony, the villages and hamlets of the ethnic people are always bright with colors. The procession is accompanied by the Chhay Dam drum team, the Ro Bam dance team and hundreds of flowers and ornamental plants decorated with sparkling strings, following the footsteps of the people going to the pagodas.

Ms. Nach Chan Nen, a resident of Ka Ot hamlet, Tan Dong commune, said that the Kathina robe offering ceremony is a beautiful traditional cultural feature of the Khmer people. Here, people pray for peace in the village and hamlet, family safety, favorable weather, creating a joyful atmosphere for Buddhists and people in the village and hamlet.

In addition, the Kathina robe offering ceremony also helps people live closer and friendlier, more united, responsible and always love and care for each other. In addition, the ceremony is also an opportunity to mobilize Buddhists near and far to donate funds to cover the costs of renovating and building pagodas, main halls, meeting houses, etc.

Let's look at the images of the Kathina robe offering ceremony at Kiri Sattray Menchey Pagoda, also known as Ka Ot Pagoda in Tan Dong Commune, Tan Chau District, Tay Ninh Province.