Malaysia Kathina has been held in Malaysia since 2009, across many temples. Although 19.4% of those practising
Buddhism in Malaysia are predominantly of the
Mahayana tradition, a recent emergence of the
Theravada tradition from Thailand in the North and Sri Lanka in the South has started the tradition of the observance of
Vassa across Buddhist temples in Malaysia. Vassa is observed starting on the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and the choice of the date of the Kathina celebration, as well as the end of Vassa observance for each respective temple, can range from the first day of the ninth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month.
Myanmar made out of money
Kathein (, from Pali ) refers to the ceremony during which yellow robes called
matho thingan () are offered to the
sangha between the first waning day of
Thadingyut (, approximately October) and the full moon day of
Tazaungmon (, approximately November) in the
Burmese calendar. During this period, certain rules of the
Vinaya are relaxed for monks. Kahtein trees can also be portrayed by using
Kyat money between ten and hundred thousand as desired.
Thailand and Laos Kathin () in
Thailand is the name for the robes of an
ordained monk. The ceremony of
kathina is called
Thot Kathin (). Under the
Thai lunar calendar, the ceremony can begin from the first day of the waning moon of the eleventh month. The presentation of
kathin by the
King of Thailand's representative is called
Royal Kathin Ceremony and often has been an
occasion for one of Thailand's
Royal Barge Processions. The Kathin Festival is a traditional Buddhist festival celebrated by villagers in
Isan and
Laos. Colourful parades and offering ceremonies at the end of monks' retreat at local temples. On
Ok Phansa day of the full moon, villagers and city dwellers will go to their local temple for prayers and paying respect to the sacred.
Ok Phansa is also the beginning of a 30-day period of
merit-making which affords a special opportunity for prayers to Buddha and for the presentation of gifts to the monks for preserving the faith. This 30-day span of merit-making and religious gift-giving is referred to as
Thot Kathin.
Thot Kathin takes its name from the "laying down" of new robes to the monks. The offering of new, saffron robes to the monks is particularly meritorious and important. Other gifts to the monks may include basic utensils, toiletries, writing materials, and food. Gift-giving is an act of appreciation and gratitude to the monks. Individuals or community groups (such as a village) may perform them. Many villagers combine efforts by collecting cash donations for the maintenance of their local temple. Such donations are vividly arranged on a "money tree" which looks rather like a colourful Christmas tree bedecked with banknotes as the "foliage". The money tree is ceremoniously paraded to the temple, led by a team of drummers and musicians, with the villagers carrying their own individual gifts on trays bringing up the rear. In this way at
Thot Kathin, the lay-people of Thailand reaffirm their faith and, in a joyous fashion, bring gifts to Buddha and his servants. ==See also==