What is the Royal Kathina Ceremony?

The royal Kathina refers to the ceremony during which the king himself or, by royal command, members of the Royal Family present monks in temples under royal patronage with robes and gifts. The Kathina ceremony by the general public are events in temples other than those under royal patronage, at which people present the monks in residence with robes and gifts. Nowadays, the King would proceed to officiate at the Royal Thot Kathin Ceremonies at 16 prominent temples under royal patronage as well as at the resident temple of Somdet Phra Sangkharat, the Supreme Patriarch. To the other temples under royal patronage throughout the country, the King would graciously delegate the responsibility for Thot Kathin to government agencies and the private sector. This is known as Kathin Phra Ratchathan, the Royally Conferred Kathin. This ceremony is conducted as prescribed by rules and regulations and supervised by the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Royal Thai Government.

Reference

KU Publish Relation. (2012). Kathin “Phra Ratchathan”. Available from: https://www.ku.ac.th
/web2012/index.php?c=adms&m=selbannerh_eng&time=20120913150002&page=News%2520and%2520Event&ip=10&load=tab5&lang=eng&id=28&id1=0 [accessed 18 February 2020]