Buddhists gather for 'Maha Kathina Civara Dana' ceremony in Bodhgaya

Hundreds of Buddhist devotees gathered on Sunday at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple in Bodhgaya to participate in the 13th 'Maha Kathina Civara Dana' ceremony.

'Kathina Civara Dana' or the 'robe offering ceremony' is a festival in which Buddhist devotees donate different items, including robes for the living of the monks.

"After the rainy season, the robes that monks wear get worn out. So, it is our duty as Buddhists to offer them new robes and new requisites for them to be able to get on with their lives normally and meditate," a devotee from Thailand said.

"The motive of this project is that it is our duty as a Buddhist to follow the ancient and sacred traditions. It is our method of sustaining and maintaining our religion. This is the holy land of enlightenment, it considered the holiest place in our religion," he added.

The robe that the Buddhist monks wear is known as 'Civara' and it is believed that the donation of robes to monks is the highest sacrifice according to Buddhism.