Sunday Times 2
After ‘vas’ it’s ‘Katina’ season now
View(s):With the end of ‘vas’ season, the temples plan the ‘katina pinkamas’ between the full moon Poya days in the months of October and November. The ‘pinkama’ sees the much-awaited offering of the ‘katina cheevaraya’ – the robe specially sewn to be offered to the Sangha who were on a three-months retreat and can only be offered once a year -along with the requisites of the temple to last the coming months.
Having participated at ‘katina pinkamas’ every year in Sri Lanka, it was a new experience this year in attending the ‘pinkama’ at Ajahn Brahmavamso’s Bodhinana forest monastery in Serpentine a little away from Perth. It was held in Thai tradition but basically the proceedings were the same as what we are used to, with a few adjustments.
The venue selected for the ‘pinkama’ was the Jhana Grove Meditation Centre which is more spacious than the monastery and could accommodate the vast gathering present. As Ajahn Brahm mentioned, the gathering was a cosmopolitan one including Singaporeans, Malaysians, Sri Lankans and Thais, in addition to Australians.
From early morning, the devotees started gathering with most of them bringing a dish to participate at the ‘davale dane,’ and ‘pirikara’ to be offered to the Sangha. Ajahn Brahm was present at a table having a word with everyone in his usual friendly way and accepting ‘pirikara’. In front was a table full of robes. It was the practice of most devotees to make a donation and get a robe and offer Ajan Brahm.
The ‘katina’ robe gifted by the King of Thailand (he has been gifting the robe for the past ten years) was on display for the devotees to worship.
Cash donations for the upkeep of the monastery were being collected by several lay persons by inviting devotees to secure a currency note in between two narrow sticks and putting it up on a ‘Money tree’. In a way it was the alternative to the ‘kapruka’ in our temples on ‘katina pinkama’ 
day when devotees pile it up with numerous articles useful for the daily needs of the monks.
Ajahn Brahm along with fifteen other monks then gathered at the hall to commence the first part of the ‘pinkama’. After a brief introductory talk describing the significance of the ‘katina’ offering, AjahnBrahm, before administering ‘pan sil’, explained the importance of observing the Five Precepts. Along with the fellow monks, he chanted ‘pirith’ and blessed those present. He stressed that ‘pirith’ chanted on that day was most effective and powerful since the monks had gathered so much of energy within, having spent three months meditating without moving out of the monastery. He then went round sparkling ‘pirith’ water on everyone present as a further blessing.
It was time for the serving of alms and everyone lined up to serve a portion of rice to the alms bowls when the monks came along on ‘pindapatha’, at the end of which they went in to the alms hall and got themselves served with the other dishes just sufficient for the mid-day meal. While they consumed the ‘dana’ in rooms, the lay crowd too had their lunch. Thai dancers kept the crowd entertained on the lawn.
While the monks took their positions in the hall once again, a procession carrying the money trees and other offerings went round the hall three times before entering the hall. The offering of the ‘katina’ robe then took place. It was offered to Ajan Brahm after which the monks formally uttered words of acceptance in chorus. Ajahn Brahm invited two monks to come up and announce the monk to whom the robe would be given indicating why that particular monk would receive it. (This was a departure from the Sri Lankan practice where the monks retire to the ‘seema malaka’and decide on who should get the robe). Two other monks were then given the task of stitching the robe.
The ceremony ended with offerings being made to the monks.
-D.C. Ranatunga