Kathina Robe Offering ceremony is the most auspicious practice in Buddhism since 2600 years ago. It is the most noblest offers for Buddhists to the Sangha. Kathina is the Pali language, which means permanence. The ceremony was held once a year in a fixed period that had been allotted by Buddha. The Monks and donors received five benefits from doing and holding the ceremony. The donors have no hindrances wherever they go or travel on duty and no poisoning danger in whatever they eat. They have properties and can keep it without loosing it by any force.
Lord Buddha gave permission to hold Kathina Ceremony due to his great compassion when seeing the robes of the 30 exhausted monks who came from a great distance to pay homage to him, were soaked and soiled with mud in the rain. During Buddha's time, each monk only allowed a set of 3 robes. The 30 monks practiced living in forest, wearing patched robes and going for alms for 13 years. The journey to Savatthi where Buddha was residing, was rather a distance and they had to spend the vassa period half way for 3 months and continued the journey. Ever since then and until today, Buddhist devotees practiced offering the robes to monks and celebrated the ceremony with joys.
Katina Ceremony started with speech by Senior monk followed by robe offerings and transfer of merit by slowing pouring the pot of water into the cup while the monk was chanting the merit transferring verses. Kathina is a great day to most Buddhists. Myanmar local devotees put on their tradition clothing with brown shawl when attending Buddhist ceremony.
We made offering with at least one monk at each and every table of food before consuming.
All monks and nuns were seated on ground to have their meals with round table of dishes.
Volunteers were busy preparing local delicacies, Bryani Rice and their tradition desert sets consisting of fermented tea leaf + dried shrimp+ groundnut+ sesame and others.
The ordination Hall and front view of Sayadaw Asabacara Meditation Center. Many Malaysian Buddhist devotees made great contributions for its construction. Sayadaw Asabhacara is a great teaching to Buddha's teaching and practices. He travels often to many countries to teach Buddha's teaching and meditation. He runs a similar center at Silver Spring in Maryland of USA.
Indaka Meditation Hall is another well known Buddhist meditation center in Myanmar. The indicative road signs and standing board stating the benefits of Dana (offerings) and Center's information at the entrance of the center. There are also blocks for Nun's dormitory. Sayadow Indaka's Meditation and Teaching center covers large area of land. The Stupa that built on the top roof of the Ordination Hall is completely gilded with gold foil. The abbot Sayadaw Indaka is specialized in Metta meditation and has many followers in Malaysia.
Theravada Nuns comparatively, do not have the position as high as monks in the temple. Nuns are not allowed to sit on the chair like monks, to accept offerings. They do not have to go out with alms bowl for Pindapata but they have to work hard inside the temple.
A nun, a lady, an old woman. They were all religious and with great faith in Buddhism.
Katina Ceremony was in process. It took more than 3 hours to complete the whole process.
The devoted Burmese women in the ceremony. Bowing to Sayadow Indaka to show respect before leaving.
Ceremony was over and young monks were resting out of the hall while teen-aged nuns were leaving with devotees' offerings: robes and some daily amenities like blankets or towels.
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