On Sunday 11 October 2009 from 9.00-11.00 a.m., Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool presided over the annual  Kathin (Robe Presentation to the Monks) Ceremony at Wat Anand Metayarama at Jl. Bukit Merah. More than 500 Buddhist devotees, both  Singaporean and Thai, took part in it.  

Kathin Ceremony is the occasion when Hinayana Buddhits make offerings of new robes to the monks who live in the Buddhist temples. The full name of this festival is “Thot Kathin”. The word “Thot” means to make an offering to a monk and the word “Kathin” means an embroidery frame. It is held after the end of three month "Rains Retreat" for Buddhist monks from July to September.

Buddhists in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar Southern China and Northern part of Malaysia celebrate this annual presentation ceremony every year soon after the end of rainy season. They distribute clothes, money, kitchen equipment and other tools to monks.  A lot of  Thai people look forward to this ceremony as it is an opportunity to sponsor robes  for monks at least once in their lifetime.  However, not everyone can sponsor since the ceremony can be expensive. Those who cannot afford to be sole sponsors often join together perform what is known as "United Kathin" i.e. a number of Buddhists come together to offer gifts to the monks and share the costs of the gifts.

In recent times, it is quite popular for a group of Thai Buddhists, particularly those from big cities, to join Kathin Ceremony away from their hometowns as it is felt that Buddhist monks in rural areas are in need of clothes, money, kitchen equipment and other tools. Sometimes they even go to offer gifts to the monks in other countries.