Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade RGOB
A 17-member delegation from Thailand led by H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Representative of His Majesty The King of Thailand and Deputy Foreign Minister observed the Royal Kathina Ceremony at Kyichu Lhakhang today. The Thai delegation offered a donation of Nu.900,000 to Kyichu Lhakhang along with Kathin robes and other essential items to the Temple.
The Kathina ceremony is an age-old tradition observed in temples throughout Thailand to earn merit through offering of robes and other essential items to monks who have spent three months in a monastery observing the rain retreat. The season during which a monastery may hold a Kathina festival is one month long, beginning after the full moon of the eleventh month in the Lunar calendar which usually occurs in October.
The Royal Kathina Ceremonies were held in Bhutan in 2011, 2013 and 2016 at Dechen Phodrang Monastery, Simtokha Dzong and Pangri Zampa Monastery, respectively. The Monasteries and monks received financial support and essential equipment from representatives of His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The Royal Kathina Ceremony is also held in countries such as India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
Dasho Penjore, Advisor to the Interim Government represented the Royal Government of Bhutan at the ceremony.
