The closing ceremony attracted a large crowd to Sorrel Sky Gallery
One of the Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in India divides the sand mandala into four sections before it is swept away after a blessing and closing ceremony.
Tibetan monks finished a sand mandala, which was dedicated to the Buddha of wisdom. The monks worked for about 140 hours over five days at Sorrel Sky Gallery to create the symbol by hand from colorful sand. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
A close-up shot of the sand mandala shows many intricate designs. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
Geshe Lobsang Wangyal performs a blessing during the closing ceremony. In all, the ceremony took about 15 minutes during which the monks blessed everyone in the room. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
Geshe Laden prays over the sand mandala before it is destroyed and poured into the Animas River. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
The monks begin to wipe away the sand mandala before bagging small portions to gift to onlookers. More than 100 people showed up to the ceremony. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
The monks carry the remaining sand to the Animas River with a crowd in tow. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
Onlookers wade into the Animas River near Roosa Avenue and Ninth Street to watch one of the monks pour the remaining sand into the river, blessing it. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
Lobzang Yeshey explains the mandala’s significance to the crowd. Yeshey learned English while at the monastery. Mia Rupani/Durango Herald
Five Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in India performed a blessing and closing ceremony Saturday afternoon after completing a mandala at Sorrel Sky Gallery.
It took about 140 hours over five days to finish the mandala, which was made by hand from colorful sand and dedicated to the Buddha of Wisdom.
The ceremony attracted a crowd of more than 100 people, all of whom watched in awe as the monks prayed before sweeping away the sand and bagging portions to gift to onlookers.
The remaining sand was poured into the Animas River to bless the water and all it touches.
