Tibetan monks to visit St. Pete, create mandala for third time
December 26, 2019 -
For the third time, eight Tibetan monks will visit St. Petersburg's Florida CraftART exhibition gallery to create a sand mandala.
The monks, hailing from the Drepung Gomang Monastery, will hold an opening ceremony Jan. 7 at 10:15am. Throughout the week, they will create a mandala by pouring colored sand from a the funnel-shaped tool called a chakpur, methodically tapped to release just a few grains at at time.
The exhibition will take place from Jan. 7 to 12. On the final day, the monks will hold a dissolution ceremony, in which they sweep up the mandala and hold a procession to the bay. There, the monks will perform a blessing and release the sand into the bay.
Events of the week include:
Jan. 7 at 10:15am: Opening ceremony
Jan. 8 at 5:30 to 7:00pm: Reception with display of Tibetan culture (tickets from $20-30)
Jan. 11 at 10:30-2:00pm: Rock painting with Tibetan monks (tickets $15-25)
Jan. 11 at 5:00-7:00pm: Second Saturday ArtWalk meet and participate in a worldwide meditation
Admission to Florida CraftArt outside of event hours to see the monks create the mandala is free. The monks will chant daily at 10:15 a.m. and 4 p.m.