Mandala-making monks back at Florida CraftArt this week

The Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery are back at Florida CraftArt, in downtown St. Petersburg, today through Saturday. It is an annual visitation.

The eight monks will create, using colored sand, a mandala – it means “world in harmony” in Sanskrit – reflecting the challenges our community has faced in recent months, according to a statement from Florida CraftArt.

The public is invited to watch the painstaking construction of the “sand painting,” and participate in a series of related events:

Opening Ceremony: Today, 10:30 a.m.

Sand Mandala creation: Today through Friday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily

Morning Meditation: Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.

Mala Making Workshops: Friday at 3:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. ($30 for members/$45 for non-members). Space is limited.

Dissolution Ceremony and Procession: Saturday at 2 p.m. The mandala is marched to the bayfront, where a portion of the sand is “respectfully” scattered at water’s edge, representing the impermanence of things.

All events take place at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Website.