Kathen Ceremonies Held in Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak or Wat Prasat Preah Vihear Pagoda raised $180,000

The top picture: Gen. Hing Bunheang made donations

to the monks and bottom picture: the monks receiving

donations of consumption goods

14th November, 2008

Preah Vihear: In the morning of the 12th of November, two Kathen ceremonies were organised by Samdech Hun Sen and Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen in associations with some government institutions as well as authorities of Preah Vihear province and Siem Reap province to take the donations to Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak or Wat Prasat Preah Vihear pagoda.The Kathen ceremonies brought donations for four pagodas, including Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak or Wat Prasat Preah Vihear pagoda, Wat Kiri Seima pagoda called Wat Phum Muoy, Wat Tejak Raingsey called Wat Phum Svay Chrum and Wat Sra-Em Ratanram called Wat Phum Sra-Em pagoda. These four pagodas are located in Kantuot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province.The money raised during the Kathen ceremonies on that day amounted to 720 million riels ($US180,000) plus some consumption goods. The money raised and the consumption goods donated will be given to the four pagodas named above, ie. Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak will receive 300 million riels ($US75,000), Wat Kiri Seima will receive 100 million riels ($US25,000), Wat Tejak Raingsey will receive 100 million riels ($US25,000) and Wat Sra-Em Ratanaram will receive 100 million riels ($US25,000). Other than the four temples, 100 million riels ($US25,000) of the Kathen money have been donated to the soldiers stationed at the Preah Vihear frontlines, 20 million riels ($US5,000) was given to the organising committee of the Kathen at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak and as well as donations to the 80 Buddhist monks residing at the temple where each monk receives 200,000 riels ($US50). The money donated to the 80 Buddhist monks are money donated by private donors, not the money taken out from the Kathen.