Katina Kathina Civara ceremony held in New Delhi

The annual Katina Kathina Civara ceremony of the New Delhi Buddhist Vihara was held on 22-23 October 2022 under the patronage of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda.

A press release from the High Commission said: A special sutta chanting by the Maha Sangha was held as part of a two-day long Kathina Civara Dana ceremony, led by the Joint Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society of India Ven. Rathmalwala Sumithananda Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the New Delhi Buddhist Vihara; Ven. Yudaganawe Seelawansa Thero and Administration Secretary of the  Sri Lanka Buddist Pilgrim Rest New Delhi; Ven. Pallegama Vijitha Thero. The staff members of the high commission, large number of Sri Lankan and other Buddhists residing in the city participated for the Pinkama.

Katina refers to the offering of the special robe (Katina civara) prepared and presented to monks who have completed the three-month period of retreat called Vas in Sinhala, and Vassana in Pali, meaning the period of rain. The Katina Ceremony is over 2560 years old. It is a monastic tradition preserved and observed by Buddhists all over the world because it is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire merit once a year.