First Royal Kathina in Penang

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng on Nov 9 joined the first Royal Kathina ceremony in Penang performed at Wat Chaiya Mangalaram
Buddhist Temple in Lorong Burmah.The ceremony was led by Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai.T h e R o y a l
Kathina ceremony by the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry was initiated in 1995 where each year Royal Kathina robes are bestowed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand to be brought to Buddhist monks residing in monasteries outside the country.
.Among those present at the event were Thai ambassador to Malaysia Damrong Kraikruan,Thai Consul-General in Penang Ekajit Kraivichien,president of Malaysian Buddhist Association,Penang, the Venerable Jit Heng and abbot of Kek Lok Si Temple, Venerable Xian Guan.Joining them were political secretary to the Chief Minister, Wong Hon Wai, exco for Tourism
Development, Danny Law Heng Kiang and Pulau Tikus assemblymember Yap Soo Huey.This year, the 170-year-old Wat Chaiya Mangalaram
received the honour as one of the 10Buddhist temples in nine countries around the world to perform the Royal Kathina robe offering ceremony.
Kathina is a Buddhist festival which comes at the end of Vassa , the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists.
The season during which a monastery may hold Kathina is one month long, beginning after the full moon of the 11th month in the Lunar calendar(usually October).
Also present were ambassador to Malaysia Damrong Kraikruan,Thai Consul-General in Penang Ekajit Kraivichien, president of Malaysian Buddhist Association,Penang, the Venerable Jit Heng and abbot of Kek Lok Si Temple, Venerable Xian Guan.
Joining them were political secretary to the Chief Minister, Wong Hon Wai, exco for Tourism Development, Danny Law Heng Kiang and Pulau Tikus assemblymember Yap Soo Huey.
This year, the 170-year-old Wat Chaiya Mangalaram received the honour as one of the 10 Buddhist temples in nine countries around the world to perform the Royal Kathina robe offering ceremony.
Kathina is a Buddhist festival which comes at the end of Vassa , the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists.
The season during which a monastery may hold Kathina is one month long, beginning after the full moon of the 11th month in the Lunar calendar(usually October).d.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0].appendChild(s);