February 24 – 28, 2004
The Crocker Art Museum is pleased to present the Tibetan monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery, as they create a sand mandala in the Crocker's Ballroom. The word "mandala," from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit, loosely translated means "circle" and represents wholeness or the universe. The creation of a sand mandala is a collaborative process involving rituals, ceremony, and an ancient art involving colored sand being "poured" from a chak-pur, or metal funnel, as a result of vibrations caused by running a metal rod on its grated surface. During a five-day process (February 24–28), the monks will explain, through a translator, the historical and religious significance of creating a mandala. They will also demonstrate butter sculpture, and present a Chanting Ceremony, and a Dissolution Ceremony. Don't miss your chance to witness this Ancient tradition.