 
Tod Krathin: A beautiful gift called giving
Youthapong Charoenpan
Tod Krathin traditionally lasts for a period of 30 days, beginning at the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa) through to the full moon of the twelfth Lunar month.
Buddhists regard the Tod Krathin ceremony to be the most significant form of merit-making next to the ordination of close kin. Tod refers to 'making an offering to a monk', while kathin refers to the 'embroidery frame' used in sewing a monk's robes. Once, during the time of Lord Buddha, fabric was less plentiful, so material would sometimes have to be used that had been found on corpses. Since there was no apparatus available to help with the embroidery work, wooden frames are used to stretch the material.
Due to the difficulty this situation must have caused the monks, the Lord Buddha decided to allow monks to accept gifts of cloth presented by laymen, clarifying that this must take place within the month following the end of Ok Phansa. Only monks who have resided in a temple for the duration of the rainy season may accept these gifts, while they are prohibited from specifically inviting anyone to perform the ceremony at their temples.
A restful, rural setting
We visited a temple called Wat Kohtong in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen recently to join its annual Tod Krathin ceremony. The temple is a small one located in a peaceful spot away from the center of town.
The ceremony itself cannot begin until the monks have eaten, so we had to arrive early in order to make an offering of food in time. For the most part, temples located in the countryside tend to begin their activities even earlier than those found in Bangkok.
Each temple is able to organize one Tod Krathin ceremony per year, but the actual festival period actually officially lasts for 30 days. During this period, most Buddhists participate in ceremonies, either directly or indirectly.
Wat Kohtong follows the traditional ceremonial format. Following an early morning meal, monks chant and provide blessings to laypersons. Robes and other necessities relating to temple life can then be ceremoniously offered to the monks.
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During the time of the Lord Buddha, the Tod Krathin ceremony was used to teach monks humility through learning to cut, dye and sew robes for themselves. The robes they completed were then offered to the most deserving members of the monkhood. But today, the ritual has evolved into a somewhat different and much grander celebration, including lots of opportunities for huge numbers of people to make merit, as well as providing the chance for temples to raise funds. We, along with many other lay visitors to the temple, used the opportunity to contribute some funds towards the temple's upkeep.
I was particularly impressed during my visit to Wat Kohtong by the monks based there and their ability to complete the various ceremonial tasks involved before dusk.
A taste of the northeast
Buddhist festivals are always joyful occasions and this was to be no exception. The temple featured numerous food stalls offering delicious dishes synonymous with Isarn (the northeastern region of Thailand), served up by local villagers.
On a spiritual level, we were given ample opportunity to be uplifted by listening to talks on Dhamma (the Lord Buddha's teachings) during our visit, as we experienced this important and impressive ceremony unfold throughout the day.
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Art & Culture 
Art & Culture
Thailand is home to a rich cultural heritage with distinct spiritual and art lineages. Gain insight into the ways of Thai culture passed down through the centuries in addition to its more modern variations through original Art & Culture articles.
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