Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery will construct a Mandala Sand Painting in the Havener Center Atrium during the first week of classes.

From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as
one of the most unique and exquisite. Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a
flat platform over a period of days to form the image of a mandala. To date the monks have
created mandala sand paintings in more than 100 museums, art centers, and colleges and universities in
the United States and Europe.

The mandala sand painting begins with an opening ceremony, during which the lamas consecrate
the site and call forth the forces of goodness. This is done by means of chanting, music and mantra recitation. 
Construction of the mandala will occur daily until 6:00pm, with the closing ceremony on Friday, August 25 at 1:30p.m.

Sponsored by Missouri S&T Student Union Board, Missouri S&T Student Diversity & Inclusion, and Leach Theatre. The sand mandala painting is free and open to the public.