The Dynamics of Kathin Festival in Umao Sub – District of Yang Talat District Kalasin Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the Kathin ceremony in Theravada Buddhism; 2) to study the traditions of the Kathin ceremony of Umao Sub-district, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province; 3) to analyze the dynamics of the Kathin merit making of Umao Sub-district, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province. The study was carried out by means qualitative research. The data collection was conducted from studying documents and in-depth interviews.
           The results of the research were as follows: dynamics ceremony; Kathin merit making; Umao Sub-district People, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province.
          Kathin in Theravada Buddhism is a merit making in Buddhism rooted in the discipline of Kathin. It is the Buddha's blessing given to the monks who live in the lent for a full quarter of three months. In that temple, there must be no less than five monks living in the Buddhist Lent to be able to proceed the Kathin after the end of Buddhist Lent, which is scheduled within 1 month. It is a special offering that the Lord Buddha has given without requesting with his wish to provide support of robes, to create unity among the monks, thus obtaining the virtue of the Kathin and to support the monks who performed good practices. Later, there were devotees to bring the Kathin cloth to the monks after the end of Buddhist Lent. Therefore, this ritual is called Kathin merit making tradition up to the present.
          Kathin Ceremony of Umao Sub-district people has developed continuously from the traditional Kathin ceremony, rooted in the discipline of commandments in two forms: the Kathin with the host and Kathin unity. Later, there is an integration according to the era. The offering of cloth therefore popularly uses ready-made robes as Kathin fabric. There is a collection of money dedicated to the Kathin as a part of donation. It is a good tradition to promote unity of the people in the community. The desirable form of Kathin ceremony consisted of maintaining the discipline, adhering to the form of ordinances that promote self-sufficiency, unity and wisdom. This is a pattern that emphasizes the preservation of the Kathin tradition as a good tradition for the community to support and promote the Kathin merit-making tradition of Umao Sub-district, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province as a good role model for the coming generations.