The Sacred Arts Tour Monks Create a Sand Mandala. [Photo by Sacred Arts Tour – Drepung Gomang Monastery]
For the second consecutive year, the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden will host the Sacred Arts Tour Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery, a Tibetan monastery based in Karnataka State, South India. From Monday, January 6, through Saturday, January 11, 2025, visitors will have the unique opportunity to engage in a week of cultural and spiritual experiences led by these distinguished monks.
This six-day event offers a variety of activities designed to immerse attendees in Tibetan traditions and art, including the creation of a Sand Mandala, Mani Stone Painting Workshops, a Pet Blessing, and a Cultural Pageant. Events will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, with tickets required for admission and workshops.
The monks will construct a Green Tara Sand Mandala, a breathtakingly intricate artwork symbolizing compassion, love, and peace. This spiritual centerpiece, made with vibrantly colored sand, takes 5-7 days to complete, with monks working for hours each day. Visitors can observe the mandala's creation and hear the monks' prayers, chanted in their traditional overtone style, often accompanied by cymbals, drums, and horns.
Hands-on workshops and activities led by the monks:
Mani Stone Painting Workshop
Tuesday, January 7
Participants inscribe personal prayers or symbols onto stones for $10.
Pet Blessing
Wednesday, January 8
Monks bestow blessings upon furry companions for $25 per pet ($5 for members). Sacred pet tags are also available for purchase.
Momo Sale
Friday, January 10
Attendees can purchase hand-made Tibetan dumplings, an iconic dish filled with vegetables or beef.
Cultural Pageant
Saturday, January 11
The week culminates with a Cultural Pageant at 12 p.m., showcasing the snow lion dance, monk dance, sacred chants, and monastic debates. The Closing Ceremony at 4:00 p.m. will include the deconstruction of the mandala and the distribution of blessed sand to attendees, symbolizing the impermanence of life.
Admission and Proceeds:
- General Admission (January 6-10): $25/day for nonmembers; $5/day for members.
- Saturday Admission (Cultural Pageant and Closing Ceremony): $30 for nonmembers; $10 for members.
- Multi-Day Pass (Monday-Friday): $100 for nonmembers; $20 for members.
Tickets are available at www.mounts.org/sacred-arts-tour-drepung-gomang-monastery/, by phone, or via mail. All proceeds support the Drepung Gomang Monastery, providing education, food, and healthcare for monks living in exile.
The Sacred Arts Tour reflects the monks’ mission to spread compassion, preserve Tibetan culture, and promote interfaith understanding. Founded in 1416, Drepung Gomang Monastery has long been a center for Tibetan Buddhist scholarship, emphasizing philosophy and debate. For more information on the monastery, visit DrepungGomang.org.
