They spent a week creating it; now it's time to let it go. On Saturday, the Sand Mandala is ritualistically dismantled  in a dissolution ceremony.

USC Pacific Asia Museum hosts Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery. The monks spend one week creating a Sand Mandala, a Tibetan Buddhist tradition that involves the creation and destruction of paintings made from colored sand.

Once completed, the mandala is ritualistically dismantled to symbolize the Buddhist belief in the transitory nature of material life.

Museum visitors can observe the creation of the mandala during regular public open hours and attend special ceremonies at the following times:

Sunday, January 20 at 12 noon:  Opening Ceremony

Wednesday, January 23 at 12 noon: Prayers for World Peace and meet the monks

Thursday, January 24 at 7pm: Chod Puja: a combination of chanting, music, prayer and visualizations using Tibetan instruments

Saturday, January 26 at 12 noon: Closing Ceremony

The event is held indoors, in the Museum auditorium. Visitors can observe the process during public hours. General admission applies. (The Museum is free on Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm.)