Mohinder Singh (2nd
right) and Savinder Kaur Gulati (left) and their family bring the Thod
Kathin robes from home to Wat Chaimongkol.
Warunya Thongrod
A wealthy Thai Sikh family donated more than 4 million baht,
including 200 royally sanctioned robes, to Pattaya’s Chaimongkol Temple
for its annual end-of-rainy season festival.
More than 200 people attended the Oct. 24 “Thod Kathin” ceremony where
Savinder Kaur Gulati and Mohinder Singh presented the robes obtained
through the Royal Household to Abbot Pisan Jariyaphiwat and 50 monks.
Along with donations of meats, desserts and beverages, the Gulati family
presented total donations worth more than 4.4 million baht. An
additional 1 million baht in cash donations raised from temple patrons
was also presented.
“My family has been working in Pattaya for 35 years and my family status
and finances have grown over that time. My wife and I believe that we
must do good for society by repaying for our homes and careers,” Gulati
said. “I learned that the Thod Kathin merit-making ceremony is a
Buddhism ceremony bringing merit so I wanted to take this opportunity
for this temple as my home and shop are in the same neighborhood.”
While Pisan arranged for the robes to be donated by the Royal Household,
the fact they were provided for the Thai Sikh family to present said
much about their social standing, the abbot said.
The Thod Kathin ceremony is a Buddhist tradition held at the end of
rainy season. The festival generally lasts for a month and is a time for
temple patrons to express gratitude to monks. Robes are the most-common
gifts lay Buddhists bring to make merit.
