Blooms of Devotion: The 2025 Katina Ceremony at Austin Buddhist Vihara
Posted on: Dec 7, 2025
The rolling hills of Pflugerville echoed with the serene sounds of chanting this past weekend as the Austin Buddhist Vihara celebrated its 2025 Katina Ceremony.
For the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in the greater Austin area, the Katina ceremony—often referred to as the “Greatest Merit”—is the highlight of the spiritual calendar. It marks the conclusion of Vassana (the three-month Rains Retreat), a period of intense meditation and stability for the monastic community.
This year’s event, held on October 24th and 25th, was a beautiful display of tradition, communal effort, and deep spiritual reverence.
An Evening of Protection: The All-Night Pirith
The festivities began on the evening of October 24th with an all-night chanting ceremony (Sarva Rathrika Paritta Deshana).
Following the conclusion of their rainy season practice, the resident monks, joined by visiting members of the Maha Sangha, filled the shrine room with the rhythmic and protective chanting of Suttas. A large gathering of devotees remained at the temple throughout the night, listening to the Dhamma talk and absorbing the vibrations of the Pirith, setting a pure and peaceful atmosphere for the main event the following day.
The Robe of Merit: Weaving Tradition
The morning of October 25th witnessed a special and traditional aspect of the Katina: the creation of the robe itself.
Rather than offering a pre-made commercial robe, the devotees of Austin Buddhist Vihara participated in the ancient practice of preparing the Katina Cheevara from scratch. Starting with a plain white cloth, community members gathered to cut, dye (using the traditional robe color), and sew the garment within a single day. This labor of love symbolizes the immediacy of giving and the communal bond between the laypeople and the Sangha.
The Offering and Alms Giving
The ceremony culminated in the formal offering. Amidst a schedule filled with religious activities and Dhamma talks, the highlight was the procession and presentation of the Katina Robe.
While the robe is technically offered to the Sangha as a whole, the community of monks unanimously selected Rev. Bibile Gnanasantha Thero, who had successfully completed the Katina practice, to receive the robe this year.
Following the robe offering, the lay community performed Sanghika Dana, offering a carefully prepared lunch to the entire gathering of monks.
A Community United
The 2025 Katina Ceremony at Austin Buddhist Vihara was more than just a ritual; it was a profound “Pinkama” (meritorious deed) that brought families and friends together.
Seeing the devotion of the Sri Lankan community in Texas—maintaining these ancient Theravada traditions thousands of miles from home—was truly inspiring. May the merits generated by this event bring peace and happiness to all participants.
Theruwan Saranai! (May the Triple Gem Bless You)
