Material Culture hosted Tibetan Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery, India,  for the construction of a Sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala.  Mandalas are intricate geometric designs, patterns and symbols representing the universe and Buddhist teachings . Mandalas hold deep spiritual and symbolic significance in Tibetan Buddhist culture. Sand mandalas are temporary, symbolizing the transient nature of all things and the impermanence of life. 

 Working from the center outward the group of monks used small metal tubes called “chak-pur,” to carefully pour colored sand  to fill in the design. Creating a sand mandala is a painstaking and meditative process that involves highly trained practitioners.

  After six days the Mandala was complete, only to be intentionally destroyed. After meditation and chanting the sand was gathered into bags and taken to the Wissahickon where it was spread over the water to symbolize the spreading of blessings.