|
Written by Tom
|
|
Saturday, 13 February 2010 18:54 |
|
Sart Thai day will be celebrated at Wat Tampa on Sunday, September 12, 2010 this year. Sart Thai day falls in the middle of the traditional Thai year. It occurs on the fifteenth day of the waning moon of the tenth lunar month (sometime during September).
The word Sart, derived from the Pali language, means season and in particular autumn or fall. Sart Thai day is also referred to as Memorial Day. This is not Memorial Day as Americans might assume. In Thailand, Sart Thai is a time to remember dead relatives with prayers, Buddhist rituals, and merit making on their behalf.
|
|
Last Updated on Saturday, 10 July 2010 19:55 |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Tom
|
|
Saturday, 13 February 2010 18:55 |
|
This ceremony marks the end of Buddhist lint and is being celebrated at Wat Tampa on Sunday, October 25, 2010.
The first day of Thai Lent is referred to as Asalha Puja Day (or Commencement Day). This holiday will be celebrated at Wat Tampa on July 25 this year. The date of all of the Thai festivals is based on the lunar calendar so the "American" dates vary from year to year. You may also here Lent referred to as the "rains retreat."
Since the beginning of Thai Lent we celebrate Thai Mothers Day (August 15) and Sart Thai Day (also known as Memorial day, September 12). Thai Mothers day pays respect to all Thai mothers and, in particular, the Queen of Thailand. Sart Thai Day is a celebration of the beginning of the harvest and is an opportunity to thank the deities for a successful harvest. Sart Thai Day will be celebrated on September 13 this year.
The end of Lent is marked by Ok Phansa. Ok Phansa marks the end of the "rains retreat" and the beginning of Krathin. Monks can return to their social duties and travel. Ok Phansa is also celebrated by lay people offering food and gifts to the monks. Ok Phansa is celebrated throughout Thailand but the celebrations vary by region.
According to legend Ok Phansa also celebrates the Buddha‘s return to earth, after spending one Lent season, which is 3 month long, preaching in heaven. It also marks the end of the Lent period of retreat and the beginning of Krathin, the traditional time for presenting new robes and other gifts to monks at temples throughout the country. This ceremony must be completed within one month of the end of Buddhist lent and only one ceremony in a year. |
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 28 February 2010 21:08 |
|
|
Written by Tom
|
|
Saturday, 13 February 2010 18:56 |
|
The Kathina Ceremonywill be celebrated at Wat Tampa on Sunday November 7, 2010. This ceremony is the culmination of events that started with the "rains retreat" or start on Lent. The Kathina (or Royal Kathina) occurs shortly after the end of Lent for the reasons explained below.
During Lent (roughly the rainy season in Thailand) monks could not travel.The monks stayed overnight in the same temple for three lunar months. The Kathina ceremony originates from the time of Buddha. The original ceremony was for a group of monks traveling to meet Lord Buddha. They were unable to completed their journey before the beginning of the rains retreat (Lent). At the end of Lent they completed their journey. Their clothes had become soaked and dirty on their way to meet Lord Buddha. When Buddha saw their condition he allowed lay people to offer the monks yellow robes. The tradition of presenting robes to monks continues today in the Kathina ceremony.
From a historical perspective the word Kathina has four meaning associated with it.
- A wooden frame used as a tool to stretch out a piece of cloth before sewing a new robe
- Any piece of cloth offered to the monks to make new robes with the tool described above
- The name of the merit making ceremony. This ceremony occurs once a year and is considered a day to gain great merit. Robes are presented to monks in general, not to one particular monk.
- The name of the Buddhist ritual.
You may have heard references to the Royal Kathina ceremony. There are, in fact two types of Kathina ceremonies as described below:
- Kathina Luang (Royal Kathina) - these ceremonies at held at royal temples
- Kathina Rart (Kathina Ratsdorn) - these are Kathina ceremonies held by lay people at public Temples
|
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 28 February 2010 21:09 |
|
|
Come enjoy the great food (and view) at the Sunday Market
