Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India have returned to St. Petersburg on their Sacred Artwork Tour to create an intricate sand Knowledge mandala at Florida CraftArt (501 Central Ave.).
They began the mandala on Monday, Jan. 8, and are engaged on it day-after-day via Saturday, Jan. 13, from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
We went and checked out their course of on a current weekday. Beginning with a flat, shiny blue pedestal, 4 monks huddled over it to search out the middle, measuring rigorously. They methodically established the sample in faint traces and swirls earlier than going again over them with marker, drawing the round shapes utilizing a protractor.
As soon as the define was full, they poured colourful sand via metallic funnels known as chakpurs and delicately shook it into place.
On Sunday, Jan. 14, the monks will sweep up the mandala throughout a Dissolution Ceremony that begins on the gallery at midday, then carry the sand in a procession downtown to the St. Pete Pier the place will probably be deposited within the water at Spa Seashore.
The general public can view the mandala and attend the Sunday occasion without spending a dime.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OFQKCRGX4NBCVGL25SB27IF65E.jpg "People look in the windows at Florida CraftArt on Central Ave to get a look at Tibetan Buddhist Monks with the Drepung Gomang Monastery create a wisdom sand mandala, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y4KYVTHMRBATRJFZAYKZYLE4BE.jpg "Tenzin Gelek, a Tibetan Buddhist Monks with the Drepung Gomang Monastery, leans in close, adding colored sand to the mandala.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ASNVXEOPLJDAHAOGOXVAQIIQRE.jpg "Amelia Lundquist, 4, and her father, Quinn Lundquist, watch Tibetan Monks create a wisdom sand mandala at Florida CraftArt. “I’m an artist too,” Amelia said as she took photos with a pink digital camera.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PGLZU6NRCZH35KSGUHYRJB5UWA.jpg "Spectators watch as Tibetan Buddhist Monks with the Drepung Gomang Monastery work on a sand mandala with a theme of \"wisdom.\"")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UP6GR3RNHBGKXO6FGD2VNI2ULU.jpg "A Monk selects colored sand while working on the mandala.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3K5DBYDRZ5FGHI2Y4UABVOGGO4.jpg "Kherap Gyatso, a Tibetan Monk, on left, shares a laugh with a friend named Tobgyl while taking photos together during a short break.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MM5ST76AWFAT3CHHZIYIWENSUM.JPG "Planning your weekend?")
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MBECZPYSVVHOPJ54PZ4KEBBSS4.jpg "A sign informs guest when the monks break for lunch at Florida CraftArt, while the continue to work on a sand mandala throughout the week.")
