The Lamas are from the Drepung Lubum Monastery in Southern India. After working for six days to construct an intricate sacred Mandala painting from single grains of coloured sand, the Lamas will destroy the Mandala in an ancient ceremony rarely seen outside Tibetan monasteries. What it's all about The Mandala is a three-dimensional drawing, an ancient art form within Tibetan Buddhism, meaning cosmogram or "world in harmony".  | | The Mandala is made from grains of sand |
Once the Mandala has been completed it is left for a period of contemplation and then destroyed as a vehicle to generate compassion. The ceremony helps realise the impermanence of reality, and the healing of the environment. Where it's at The ceremony will be held at 2pm at The Maitreya Monastery in Glastonbury. The ritual will begin with a traditional Puja ceremony complete with ancient Tibetan chants accompanied by trumpets and drums. At 3pm the Lamas will walk through the streets of Glastonbury, arriving at 3.30pm at the Chalice Well Gardens to deposit the sand in running water, in accordance with ancient custom.
You can join the ceremony either at 2pm at The Maitreya Monastery, or at 3.30pm at The Chalice Well Gardens. If you do attend you are invited to make a donation of £5 to the Lamas as part of their World Peace Tour. For further information telephone 01458 832482 or go to the Tibetan Foundation website – the link's at the top of this page. | 
