Los Angeles:  Performing a sacred sand mandala religious ceremony, which is sponsored by The Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery in South India, are Tibetan Buddhist monks at the Los Angeles County Museum.

From September 11, 2012 until the closing ceremony on September 15th, these monks will be performing the ritual of the sand mandala.

Monks who have performed these same rituals indicate that they are honoring the gods of the underworld who are depicted in the artwork of the mandala.  In doing so, they release a “blessing” of these gods into the region in which they are performing the mandala, into the homes of those who take the blessed sand home, and into the waters in which the sand is poured out.

Source Sacred Tibetan Art Sand Mandala Painting – Events Calendar | County of Los Angeles Public Library.