Royal Kathina Ceremony 2025: over a thousand join at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep USA

On Sunday, November 2, 2025, more than a thousand people gathered in Chino Hills, California, for the Kathina robes bestowed by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

On Sunday, November 2, 2025, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep USA in Chino Hills, California, held its Royal Kathina ceremony, offering robes bestowed by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

Mr. Pongdej and Mrs. Ruja Tulaporn, Thai owners of several McDonald’s restaurants, chaired the royal Kathina offering. Mr. Trirat Iam-urairat, owner of Blue Elephant, Blue Table and @C Fresh in Bakersfield, chaired the accompanying pha pa offering.

The Consul General of Thailand in Los Angeles, Mr. Tor Sorlump, and Mrs. Sirikamol Sorlump presided for the lay community, and the abbot, Phrakhru Withetkalyanatham, presided for the Sangha.

The day included the morning alms offering, the midday meal for the monks, a great Sangha offering (maha sanghadana), the Kathina and pha pa robe offerings, performances by students of the Buddhist Sunday school, and free food for everyone.

More than a thousand community leaders and devotees from across Southern California joined the wat’s largest merit-making day of the year. The wat rejoices in the merit of everyone who came. This year’s Kathina is on Sunday, November 22, 2026.