How To Watch Bhutanese Monks Create A Sand Mandala

The monks will be working on a sand mandala at the East-West Center in Honolulu this week. Watch them on Civil Beat’s live webcam.

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Throughout this week, Bhutanese monks will patiently pour millions of grains of colored sand onto a platform in intricate patterns forming a geometric figure representing the Buddhist cosmos known as a mandala.

Led by Lama Thinley of the Shalupangkha monastery, the group of monks also includes master mandala artist Lopen Kinley Penjor and artist Lopen Tenzin.

Once completed, the monks typically sweep up the sand, but during this exhibit the mandala will remain intact for viewers to see in person through May 27.

Civil Beat is partnering with the East-West Center to provide live video of the monks while they work. You can watch the live video on Civil Beat’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Bhutanese monks begin creating a sand mandala inside the East-West Center Gallery. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Live videos of the work so far are also embedded below.

And we’re recording a still photo time-lapse we’ll share when the work is complete. The monks will be working on the mandala from 10 a.m. to noon, and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the East-West Center Gallery.

Here is more information regarding the exhibit.

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