December 25, 1999
Source: The Detroit News
On December 25, 1999, The Detroit News reported that a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks, who live in exile at the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, will construct a sand mandala at the Detroit Institute of Arts from Monday, December 27th through Friday, December 31st. The monastic group plans to make the mandala of the Amitayush Buddha, which symbolizes boundless life. A typical mandala has four corners in white, gold, red, blue, and green, which symbolize the elements of water, earth, fire, wind, and space. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, the monks' tour director, stated: "Creating a mandala sand painting is a spiritual activity."