Kathina and Loy Krathong Festival 2021

This year, for the first time, we are combining both the Kathina Ceremony and the Loy Krathong Festival into a one day event at Wat Thai Buddharam’s Forestdale temple. The inaugural Brisbane Kathina & Loy Krathong Festival will commence with the traditional Kathina Ceremony. The Kathina Ceremony is a celebration of the end of Vassa (Buddhist Lent) and the rainy season in Thailand. At Kathina, Wat Thai Buddharam is presented with a monk’s robe, the Royal Robe, from His Majesty the King of Thailand, King Rama X. The lay people also offer new robes and gifts to the Buddhist monks, in appreciation of their spiritual guidance and support. During the ceremony, the monks give their blessings to the lay people.

Sunday, 7th November from 09:00am

At the commencement of the ceremony, the people assemble outside the temple and follow the Royal Robe, which is taken in procession, three times around the temple. The robe is accompanied by attendants and musicians and the people carry the gifts they will later present to the monks.

After the Kathina Ceremony has concluded, the Loy Krathong Festival commences. In Thailand, Loy Krathong is celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth Thai month. It is a traditional festival, where people craft small boats, usually from banana leaves and place incense sticks and a lighted candle in them. The people then float them on the rivers, ponds and waterways. The Loy Krathiong Festival at Wat Thai Buddharam has the same intent; however, it is a daytime celebration and the krathongs are not released into the local waterways. Regardless of the modifications, to suit local Australian conditions, it is a fun festival with something for everyone of all ages.

This year’s festival will be a COVID Safe celebration, but we are confident that we will be able to incorporate many of the food outlets, merchandise and stage entertainment that have been a feature of the Songkran Festival in April.