Credit: Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

I used to feel a little estranged Pali chanting. Through some study of the translations and memorisation, however, the liturgical language has grown on me over time. 

And while big crowds are not the usual draw for me, I’ve braved a ceremony or two to celebrate Vesak Day in recent years. 

Now what about the millenia-old Kathina (Robes offering) ceremony, one of the largest alms-giving occasions of the Buddhist year? 

Given my interest in the Thai Forest tradition, I thought to look up what my Theravadin friends have been up to over the years!

(Siha the Wise chilling on a cloudy day – moisturised and unbothered – it’s Kathina not Cat-hina by the way!)

Introducing the Kathina (Robe Offering) ceremony

The Kaṭhina (Robe Offering) ceremony takes place once a year after the completion of a three-month rainy-season residence or rains-retreat (Vassa) of Buddhist monastics.

Credit: 84000

During the Vassa period, usually nomadic Buddhist monastics would stay put in one place for at least three months, and this is typically when the practice of seclusion and meditation intensifies. 

The Kathina celebration marks the end of this Vassa period, and the time for them to move on. 

On this occasion, the laity offer Kathina cloth to their monastics upon their leaving. The offering can take place up to one month following the end of the Vassa period, and is typically celebrated by Buddhists of the Theravada traditions. But how did this even come about?

An ancient practice…

How the kathina ceremony came about is recorded in the Mahavagga, the third book of the Vinaya Pitaka (Vin III. 351ff). A group of thirty monks were journeying together with the intention of spending the Vassa period with the Lord Buddha who was staying at Savatthi in Jetavana. But the Vassa began before this group of monks reached their destination and so they had to stop.

After the Vassa, the monks continued on their journey through swamps and rainwater, finally arriving at where the Lord Buddha was staying. He came to see their robes were drenched and they were exhausted. Upon the exchange of friendly greetings, the Lord Buddha gave a dhamma talk, and then said that he would allow monks who have completed the vassa to ‘spread the kathina’. 

While the literal meaning of kathina is the wooden frame used during the Buddha’s time for sewing double-layered robes together, the phrase ‘spread the kathina’ has a figurative meaning of sharing the five privileges accorded to other eligible monastics participating in the kathina ceremony.

For further reading on the five privileges and how the ceremony is conducted, please refer to Kathina Then and Now by Aggacitta Bhikkhu

Credit: SBS Facebook

More details on SBS’s Kathina ceremony: https://sasanarakkha.org/2025/06/18/kathina-6/

…adapted for modern times

In this day and age, the Rains Retreat (Vassa) period is observed with slight variations, and so Kathina ceremonies have also evolved with time.

Modern infrastructure enables monastics to travel and to seek shelter from the monsoon weather whilst minimising both disruptions to their practice, and their potential destruction of non-human lives and habitats during the rainy season. With this, amongst other reasons, it seems that the practice of seclusion during the Vassa may be more varied in intensity in modern times.

With the advent of the Internet, monastics can also continue to teach remotely even if they choose to reside in a single location such as a monastery. Lay practitioners can therefore benefit from the continued stream of teachings and dhamma reflections during the three-month Vassa period.

Wooden frames or kathinas may also no longer be required in our modern times. Just as some of us have left behind the sewing needles and thimbles, monastics today might be making their robes using sewing machines instead!

See here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19wECRPEq6/

The adaptation of scriptural traditions warrants deeper research and reflection; All observations and mistakes above are my own. Now for our introductory understanding, seeing as the Kathina ceremony lives on, how might we relate to it?

Significance of the Kathina for monastics and laity

Credit: Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary

The following suggestions are adapted from Sasanarakhha Buddhist Sanctuary: Kathina Day is a special occasion for many reasons.

For the monastics, Kaṭhina reminds them of at least 4 important things:

1. The ancient practice of making their own robes.
2. Gratitude to the lay devotees for relieving them of the time-consuming chores related to the making of these garments.
3. Gratitude for the support from lay devotees for providing the monks with the 4 requisites so that they can make use of the time available to study, practise and propagate the Dhamma.
4. To renew their commitment to perpetuate the Vinaya tradition of making the Kaṭhina robe by cutting, sewing and then dyeing it.

For the lay devotees, Kaṭhina is meaningful too. It gives them the opportunity to make a lot of merits. Lay devotees make merit on Kaṭhina day when they:

• Develop faith in the Triple Gem – the Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha by learning and practising the Dhamma.
• Renew their commitment to support the Saṅgha, thus prolonging the śāsana i.e. the teachings of the Buddha.
• Help to support monasteries and retreat centres by contributing in cash and kind towards their operation and maintenance.

Where to go in Singapore

Credit: Lanka Bogoda – Captured Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple

I hope you’ve gained some appreciation for the Kathina (Robe offering) ceremony over the course of this article. Here are some locations you could visit if you’d like to experience it for yourself this year.

Mangala Vihara (30 Jalan Eunos, S419495)

• 12 Oct, 6.30am – 8.30am
  • Kathina Robe Procession, Buddha Puja, Kathina Robe Offering, Sanghika Dana, Refreshments for Devotees
• 12 Oct, 6.45pm – 8.45pm
  • Bodhi Puja, Buddha Puja, Buddhist Pali Naming Ceremony

Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society (567A Balestier Rd, S329884)

• 12 Oct

Wat Ananda Metyarama (50B Jalan Bukit Merah, S169545)

• 12 Oct, 9am
  • Kathina Robe Offering

Burmese Buddhist Temple (14 Tai Gin Road, S327873)

• 19 Oct, 9.30am – 6.30pm
  • Kathina Robe Offering

Chinese Theravada Buddhist Association (341B, Beach Road, Singapore, 199567)

• 19 Oct, starts at 8.30am
  • Kathina Robe Offering

Wat Palelai (49 Bedok Walk, S469145)

• 26 Oct, 7am – 12.30pm
  • Refreshments, Alms round (pindapata), Kathina Ceremony, Lunch dana

Buddhist Library (59 Lor 24A Geylang, Singapore 398583)

• 26 Oct, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Uttayanmuni Buddhist Temple (32B Hong San Ter, S688785)

• 26 Oct, 27 Oct
  • Kathina Day & Founder’s Day Memorial Service of Luang Phor Kron (Tok Raja)

Dhammakami Buddhist Society (29 Lor 29 Geylang, #06-01/02, S388078)

• 2 Nov, 2 – 4.30pm

Singapore Buddhist Mission (9 Ruby Ln, S328284)

• 2 Nov, 9am – 1pm

Where to go in Malaysia

Credit: Richard Ng – Captured Dhamma Earth – Kuala Lumpur

Dhamma Earth (various locations)

• Dhamma Earth Penang
  • 11 Oct, 8am – 1pm 
• Dhamma Earth Kuching
  • 11 Oct & 12 Oct, 8am – 6pm
• Dhamma Earth Kuala Lumpur
  • 18 Oct & 19 Oct, 8am – 6pm 

Santi Forest Monastery (Ulu Tiram, Johor Dazul Ta’zim)

• 12 Oct, starts at 7.30am
  • Pindapata, Kathina ceremony, Meal dana to Sangha, Dhamma talk
• Malaysian Entourage
  • Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (BUBS)
• Singapore Entourage
  • Nibbana Dhamma Rakkha 护法苑
  • Firefly Mission

Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) (Taiping, Perak)

• 12 Oct, starts at 7.30am
  • Kathina cloth offering, Offering of rice & requisites, Thanksgiving chants, Sharing merits, Dhamma talks, Monks collect alms food

Dhamma-Vijaya Buddhist Temple (Jalan Air Jernih, Kuala Terengganu)

• 17 Oct, 8am onwards
  • Sai pat (rice offering), Kathina ceremony, Offering of robes & requisites, Blessing and Sharing of merits, Meal offering to the sangha

Nandaka Vihara Meditation Society 法悦林禅修道场 (Penang, Malaysia)

• 18 Oct, 7.30pm – 9.30pm (Kathina Eve)
  • Lighting up of candles, Taking the 5 precepts, Bodhi Puka. Dhamma Talk, Sharing merits and aspiration
• 19 Oct, 7.30am – 1.30pm (Kathina Day)
  • Welcome Kathina robe & requisites, Alms round (Pindapata), Food stalls, GOH arrival, Lunch dana / Taking the 5 precepts, Dhamma talk, Kathina robe offering, Paritta chanting, Sharing merits and aspiration

Santisukharama (Kota Tinggi, Johor)

• 25 Oct, 8pm onwards (Kathina Eve)
  • Taking of 5 precepts, Dhamma talk by Ven Jotinanda, Metta chanting, Sharing of merits, Light refreshments
• 26 Oct, 7am – 1pm
  • Breakfast fana, Kathina procession, Taking 5 precepts, Paritta chanting, Dhamma talk by Ven. Tejadhamma, Sharing of merits, Kathina ceremony at Sima hall, Lunch dana, Lunch for devotees

Sitavana (George Town, Penang)

• 26 Oct, 9,30am onwards
  • Kathina robe offering, Taking the 5 precepts, Dhamma talk, Offering of robes & requisites, Sanghika dana, Sharing of merits, Vegetarian lunch for devotees

Brahmavihara Monastery & Retreat Centre (Melaka)

• 1 Nov, 8am – 5am
  • Free medical service, Lunch dana, Seminar talk, Evening chanting, Dharma talk, All night chanting
• 2 Nov, 6am onwards
  • Morning chanting, Breakfast dana, Pindapata, Robes Offering/Colouring Competition/Mini Bazaar/Exhibition/Buddhist Hymns Sharing, Lunch dana, Kathina ceremony/ Dharma talk/ Chanting

Wat Chetawan (Petaling Jaya, Selangor)

• 1 Nov, 8pm
  • Paritta chanting & Special blessing at Dhamma Hall
• 2 Nov, 11am onwards
  • Alms round, Sangha dana / Lunch for monks and Lunch for devotees, Procession around temple, Offering of robes & requisites, Sharing of merits at the Main Shrine Hall

Dhammavana Meditation Centre (Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang)

• 1 Nov, 7.30pm onwards
  • Evening chanting, Dhamma talk
• 2 Nov, 7am onwards
  • Breakfast for Maha Sangha, Alms round, Homage to the Triple Gem, Requesting for 3 refuges and 5 precepts, Asking for forgiveness, Offering of Kathina cloth to the Maha Sangha, Dhamma talk, Offering of food & requisites to the Maha Sangha, Blessing and sharing of merits, Lunch

Buddhist Gem Fellowship (Petaling Jaya, Selangor)

• 8 Nov, 9am – 12.30pm
  • Registration & pick-up robe, Arrival of the Maha sangha, Puja, Speech, Dhamma sharing by Bhante Dr. Dhammapala, Chanting of Maha Samaya Sutta, Offering of robes & requisites to the Maha Sangha, Blessings & Sharing of merits, Sanghika-dana & Meals for devotees

Credits and references

A number of sources were referenced for this article, including the BBC, Sasanarakkha Buddhist Santuary (SBS), Kathina Then and Now by Aggacitta Bhikkhu, as well as Buddhism info notice board 佛教资讯布告板 >> 2025 Vassa / Kathina 雨安居 / 卡帝那 Album which is faithfully maintained by a Malaysian brother who prefers to remain anonymous. Sadhu anumodana!

To explore more, you can also visit the Handful of Leaves’ Buddhist Directory or subscribe to our Telegram channel to not miss your favourite events again.