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Kathin Chivar Dan a Buddhist ceremony when viksus are
given chivar or cloth to wear. According to Buddhist belief, this is the
best of all gifts.
Chivar, the cloth that viksus wear, may be of any six colours:
those of a tree's roots, trunk, bark, dry leaves, fruit or flower.
However, the viksu community prefer to wear cloth the colour of
red flowers, as it is different from the cloth that ordinary people
wear and also because it does not have attractive designs.
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A Kathin Chivar Dan ceremony,
Dhaka |
Before the introduction of kathin chivar dan, viksus
used to wear pangsukulik chivar (soiled and torn cloth found at
cremation sites). As this made the viksus susceptible to disease, Buddha
allowed them, when they were having their monsoon rites, to wear chivar
or clean cloth, gifted by their families. However, only those viksus who
have completed the three-month cycle of monsoon rites may wear the chivar.
The chivar dan ceremony is performed for a month following prabarana
purnima until Kartik Purnima.
The ceremony is called kathin (difficult) because
the entire process of making chivar-twisting yarn, weaving, cutting the
cloth, sewing, dyeing, washing and drying-as well as distributing it among
the viksus has to be completed within 24 hours, from one sunrise to the
next. There are some other rituals, which are difficult to perform both
for those who make the gift and those who accept it. This is why it is
called Kathin Chivar Dan.
According to the Buddhist scripture, the spiritual benefits
of kathin chivar dan far surpass all others, and extend to succeeding
generations. The chivar dan ceremony is held at every vihara annually.
On this occasion Buddhist families make gifts of cloth to viksus amidst
great enthusiasm and religious fervour. The viksus accept these gifts
in keeping with the prescribed rites. In view of the multi-faceted benefits
of kathin chivar dan, all Buddhists cherish the desire to make this gift
at least once in their lifetime.
[Sukomal Barua] |
