SINCE last Thursday, these Tibetan Buddhist monks from Nepal have been working on what they hope will be the world’s largest sand Mandala of the Medicine Buddhas.
It will take 10 days to complete. Made of fine colourful powder ground from 500kg of precious stones, the sand Mandala, a Buddhist graphic symbol of the universe, will be destroyed shortly after its completion – as a metaphor on the impermanence of life.
It is one of many attractions at the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic and 500 Arhat Buddhist Treasures Exhibition at the Singapore Expo Halls 2-5.
At its official opening today, Sri Lankan dancers from the Gangarama Temple, Colombo, will perform in front of the Sri Lankan Lantern. There will also be performances from Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Sri Lankan and Singapore.
The highlight of the exhibition is a grand pagoda designed and imported from Yangon for the Buddha’s sacred tooth and hair relics discovered in Myanmar in 1980.
Other exhibits include 108 prayer wheels and relics of the Buddha’s foremost disciples. There will also be a vegetarian food fair.
The exhibition is organised by the Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple and co-organised by the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and House of Destiny Arts and Crafts.
Guest of Honour at the opening is Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi.
The exhibition, which ends on Sunday, is open to the public from 1pm to 5pm today, and from 9am to 5pm from tomorrow. Admission is free.
