While not completely new to the Student Union Board’s history of events, The Mystical Arts of Tibet has a new interactive component this year.

From Monday to Friday, monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery will gradually construct a mandala sand painting in the Memorial Union Main Lounge.

The mandala process consists of an opening ceremony including mantra recitations, chants and music, the drawing of the lines, the construction process itself and the final dismantling with dispersal of the sand.

Measuring approximately 5-by-5 feet, the dul-tson-kyil-khor, meaning “mandala of colored powders,” requires millions of grains of sand, according to the university lectures program.

Poured from metal funnels known as chakpur, these grains progressively form traditional shapes, ancient symbols and images meant to reconsecrate the earth and it’s residents. This tradition can span anywhere from a few days to several weeks, according to mysticalartsoftibet.org.

Seven monks total will be present during the week to complete the Mandala.

Though a similar event was held four years ago, the public will be able to participate in a creative way this year. An additional mandala has been drafted by Kyrstin Myhers, senior in interdisciplinary design, said Cory Bock, Student Union Board multicultural awareness director.

“The mandala we chose is called ‘Avalokiteshvara’ which means ‘Buddha for Compassion.’ We chose this mandala because compassion permeates through this university and we’d like for that to remain strong and prevalent on campus,” Bock said.

The community piece will be set up in the main lounge of the MU for visitors to construct. The sand painting will be open to everyone Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional Workspace events will be held in conjunction with this program.

On Monday, an opening ceremony will be held at noon, followed by the drawing of the lines at 12:30 p.m. and a lecture at 7 p.m.

Tuesday will start with construction at 10 a.m. for both the community and main mandala. A mandala drawing class will be available through the Workspace at 7 p.m. that is $20 for students and $30 for the public.

On Wednesday, both mandalas will again initiate construction at 10 a.m. with an embroidered mandalas workshop to follow at 6 p.m. Cost is $21 for students and $31 for the public.

Thursday brings another day of double mandala construction starting at 10 a.m. with another lecture taking place at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union concerning focus and stress relief.

On Friday, the main mandala will be completed from 10 to 11 a.m. Visitors are welcome to view this completed piece from 11 a.m. to noon. A closing ceremony will follow at noon with the dispersal of the sand at 12:45 p.m.

“This event gives students the opportunity to view something painstakingly beautiful,” Bock said. “The mandala is created with millions of grains of sand and the temporary nature of the painting represents the brevity of life. This event also exposes students to a culture outside of their own to show what else is out in the world.”