At the end of Thailand's rainy season — in not-so tropical New York, this falls sometime in mid-autumn — lay Buddhists present the monks at their local temple with the saffron robes called kathin (sometimes, katin). The offering of respects to the monks, and to the temple, is accompanied by food prepared by congregants and by Thai restaurants. All are welcome to partake, bearing in mind the spirit of the occasion — not so much food frenzy as good fellowship. A donation to the temple is welcome, too.
At the most recent celebration, I arrived as the food stations were still setting up and was treated to a golden sticky rice cake, impregnated with sweet beans, while it was still warm from the grill. Perhaps next year I'll have a chance to try one of its purple cousins. For more from multiple years of this celebration, see my photos on Flickr.
Wat Buddha Thai Royal Kathin Celebration
Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram, 76-16 46th Ave. (76th-78th Sts.), Elmhurst, Queens
