HAE THIAN PHANSA, KATHIN, AND PHA PA

     TRADITIONAL ceremonies

The Phansa  retreat  arose from Lord Buddha's command that during the fertile rainy season of each year, all monks were to reside at a particular temple and not to make unnecessary journeys for a period of three months beginning from the 1stday of the waning moon of the 8 th lunar month. The people of almost every community in Thailand parade (hae) large and ornatecandles (thian) to their local temples. The candlesare lit inreverence of the Buddhist faith throughout the 3-month retreat.

Kathin is the ceremonial gift of robes and other useful objects which the lay community presents to a deserving monk in recognition of his steadfast observance of the Phansa. Thod Kathin is the ceremonial donation which consists of a verbal statement by the giver, an election of the reciver voiced by an assembly of every monk in the temple, and the giving of the gifts. The Thod Kathin is a formal ceremony which must take place within the prescribed period between the 1 st day of the waning moon of the 11 th lunar month and the full moon day of the 12 th lunar month.

Thod Pha Pa is the informal giving of robes and gifts to any monk who is in need of the life neccessities. This can be carried out at anytime and anywhere to suit the needs of the receivers  and the intentions of the donors. The main gift components are a piece of cloth (pha) or a complete set of robes and any other useful objects such as medicine, umbrealla, shoes, etc. A tree branch is placed in the same container as the gift to symbolise the forest (pa) where the gifts used to be left for any passing monk to pick up.

                          All three traditions serve a very important role in Buddhism. They maintain the faith by making sure that the monks are well provided with neccessities. They also give recognition to the person who deserves  praise as an encouragement to others to maintain the observance of ancient traditions.