Kathina Ceremony, L.A. (Nov. 2-3)

Lankarama Buddhist Institute (dhammausa.com); Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly

Dear Dharma Friends and Family,

You are cordially invited to make merit by participating in the Kaṭhiṇa Ceremony on Nov. 2 (Saturday) and Nov. 3 (Sunday), 2019.

Join us in this special Buddhist Festival, which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month Rains Retreat for Theravāda Buddhists.

• Annual Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering Ceremony 2019
• Maha Saṅgha Dāna
• Lankarama Buddhist Institute
• 398 Giano Ave., La Puente, CA 91744
• Phone: (626) 913-0775

Saturday Schedule

7:30 PM - Aṭavisi Buddha Vandanā ("Honoring the 28 previous Buddhas")
Conducted by Ven. Dr. K. Gunaratana Thera

Abbot of Mahā Karuṇā Buddhist Center,

Head of the Religious Affairs of

Lankarama Buddhist Temple, Singapore

Sunday Schedule

6:30 AM - Offering of Kaṭhiṇa Cloth to the Mahā Saṅgha

7:30 AM - Buddha Vandanā

7:45 AM - Breakfast dāna to the Mahā Saṅgha

10:00 AM - Kaṭhiṇa Perahera (Kathina robe parade)

11:15 AM - Buddha Vandanā

11:30 AM - Offering of Kaṭhiṇa robe and 

Lunch offering (dāna) to the Mahā Saṅgha

12:30 PM - Kaṭhiṇānisaṃsa ("Benefits of Kaṭhiṇa") and 

Transferring merits by Ven. Dr. K. Gunaratana Thera

1:00 PM - Free lunch for all in attendance

What is Kathina?

Kathina is a traditional Buddhist festival that comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat period for Theravada Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and India.

The period during which a Buddhist monastery or center may hold Kathina is one month long, beginning after the full moon of the 11th month in the Lunar calendar (usually October).

It is a time of giving, for lay Buddhists to express gratitude to bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monastics). Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks and nuns. Moreover, the gift of the attha parikara (in Sri Lanka known as atapirikara අටපිරිකර ) -- the "eight monastic requisites" -- is an important part of the offerings. More

• Click flower decorations to see the ongoing preparations
• Learn more about Kathina Robe Offering and Rains Retreat
• Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering - History and Development
• The Significance of the Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony
• Kathina
• Kathina: Then and Now