Bhutan

In Bhutan, weeks of work in sand can disappear with a single sweep. On purpose.

Buddhist monks create mandalas from coloured sand, often finely ground marble or other minerals. Grain by grain, an intricate geometric pattern is built over days or weeks.

Once the mandala is complete, it’s ceremonially swept together. The sand is carried to a river or lake and poured into the water, so the water can carry the blessing onwards.