KATHEN

Kathen is a traditional ceremony that is held for bringing the new robes to offer to the monks' just relief from Bukkha discipline during three months in each pagoda. Period of this ceremony people can do only 29 days after relief from Bukkha discipline during three months day from I roach (first day of the dark moon in the eleventh month of Ashoch to 15 Kouet (fifteenth day of the full moon) in the twelfth month of Kadek. It's the best meritorious deed either doers (lay people) or receivers (monks) can get brightly spiritual merit.

The first day in the afternoon lay people congregate together and invite monks to recite the Dharma in their houses or in the monastery.

The second day they accompany the Kathen body procession around the temple for three times then get into the temple, prepare the Kathen in front of the monks, pay homage to the three refuges and do the observing moral principle, offer the Kathen body to the monks, is over for the last time of a festival.

Otherwise, at that night they celebrate the ceremony for hobby, like Rom Vong (the most popular traditional dance in Cambodia). Especially youngsters are the most to enjoy dancing, they also include with other different traditional games till mid night.