See Tibetan Monks create a sand mandala in St. Petersburg
Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India have returned to St. Petersburg on their Sacred Art Tour to create an intricate sand Wisdom mandala at Florida CraftArt (501 Central Ave.).
They started the mandala on Monday, Jan. 8 and are working on it every day through Saturday, Jan. 13 from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. On Sunday, Jan. 14, the monks will sweep up the mandala during a Dissolution Ceremony that begins at the gallery at noon, then carry the sand in a procession downtown to the St. Pete Pier where it will be deposited in the water at Spa Beach.
The public can view the mandala and attend the Sunday event for free.
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. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Tenzin Gelek, a Tibetan Buddhist Monks with the Drepung Gomang Monastery, leans in close, adding colored sand to the mandala. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
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. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Spectators watch as Tibetan Buddhist Monks with the Drepung Gomang Monastery work on a sand mandala with a theme of “wisdom.” [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
A Monk selects colored sand while working on the mandala. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Kherap Gyatso, a Tibetan Monk, on left, shares a laugh with a friend named Tobgyl while taking photos together during a short break. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
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. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]