Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in India will complete the sand mandala this (Saturday) afternoon that they have spent five days constructing at Sorrel Sky Gallery.
The monks started work on the mandala Tuesday morning and have spent about 140 hours creating it from colorful sand, said tour director Lobsang Wangchuk.
The public is invited to join the monks at 4 p.m. today (Saturday) at Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., for a blessing and closing ceremony, where they will ritualistically dismantle the mandala before feeding the sand into the Animas River.
It is believed that everything the river touches will in turn be blessed by the sand.
“When we get to the river, the monks will slowly pour the sand out of a ceremonial wrapping into the water,” Wangchuk said. “Whenever mandalas are put into rivers, living beings and crops thrive. We strongly believe this sand purifies the environment.”
Attendees will receive a small portion of sand as a remembrance.
Sunday is the monks’ last day in Durango, and they encourage everyone to attend a blessing at 2 p.m. at the Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East Third Ave.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
