In the tradition of Ajahn Chah the yearly robe-offering ceremony called “Kathina” is usually marked by a large gathering of monastery-disciples for chanting, meditation and Dhamma-talks the night before the offering. Monks and laypeople from nearby forest monasteries join in. For laypeople there is free food-give-away offered by many volunteer-groups. In the morning, just before the actual Kathina ceremony, the sangha usually goes on a symbolic rice-almsround within the monastery. This year the seniormost Ajahn was Luang Por Liem from Wat Nong Pah Pong and Tan Ajahn Jayasaro, who came from his kuti in Korat.
The Kathina ceremony starts with a short, formal dedication in Pali. Then all laypeople who wish to contribute robe-material, place their offering in front of the sangha. The monks then determine who is to receive the robe that is to be made out of the offered cloth. This “Kathina”-robe needs to be finished before the next dawn. In Wat Pah Nanachat the sangha hand-sews the white cloth in a group effort, and then uses natural dye derived from Jackfruit-wood to give it the required ochre colour. The dye is been prepared ahead of time in a lengthy process of boiling down wood-chips for many hours. The wet robe is then dried, for example by the heat of small charcoal stoves. Eventually the finished robe is given in a formal sangha meeting to the designated recipient - usually the abbot.
