Tibetan Monks Create Ceremonial Sand Mandala
May 14, 2024–May 18, 2024 Telfair Academy- This event has passed.
Telfair proudly announces the return of the Tibetan monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery to the museum to create a healing sand mandala at the Telfair Academy. The monks last visited Telfair in 2016 and are one of the museum’s most frequently requested programs. The opening program begins with sacred music and chants, after which the lamas (monks) begin by drawing the mandala’s outline on a wooden platform. On the following three days, the lamas will create the mandala by painstakingly pouring the sand from traditional metal funnels called chak-purs. At completion the monks will conduct a closing ceremony and the mandala will be deconstructed as a metaphor of the impermanence of life. The sands are swept up and placed in an urn. To fulfill the function of healing, half is distributed to the audience, while the remainder is carried to the Savannah River.
Sand Mandala Creation by Tibetan Monks
May 15-17 | 10am-5pm
May 18 | 10am – 1pm
Visit to see the monks construct the sand mandala at the Telfair Academy.
*Free admission for Telfair members, standard admission for non-members.
Opening Ceremony | Tuesday, May 14 at 5pm
The Tibetan monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery return to Telfair Museums to create a healing sand mandala. The opening program includes sacred music and chants followed by the lamas (monks) draw the mandala’s outline on a wooden platform.
Members free | Non-members $10
This event is sold out. To be added to a waitlist, please contact membership@telfair.org.
Closing Ceremony | Saturday, May 18 at 2:30pm
Recommended arrival by 2pm. All guests must be seated by 2:30pm. The closing program will be approximately an hour long.
At the closing ceremony, the lamas will destroy the sand mandala shortly after its completion as a metaphor for the impermanence of life. The sands are swept up and placed in an urn; to fulfill the function of healing, half is distributed to the audience while the remainder is carried to a nearby body of water, where it is deposited.
Members $10 | Non-members $20
This event is sold out. To be added to a waitlist, please contact membership@telfair.org.
Due to limited seating, the opening and closing events are ticketed with discounts to Telfair members. During the mandala construction days admission is free to members.
Free admission is offered to K-12 and college school groups during morning hours by advance registration. School groups may request registration by contacting: grouptours@telfair.org
