Monk creates picture to destroy

The sand is carried in a procession and then poured into a river

A Tibetan monk has spent a week in Bristol creating a mandala - a picture in sand - which will then be destroyed in a Buddhist ceremony.

Jamyang Ketup, from Nepal, is taking part in Refugee Week which aims to improve understanding within local communities through art and culture.

He has been working on the mandala using coloured sand which is poured from metal funnels to create a picture.

Once it is completed, it will be swept up and poured into the River Frome.

'Happiness for all beings'

Jamyang Ketup, head trustee of the Tharlam Sarsang Namgyaling Monastery in Nepal, said: "Once people have seen this special mandala they will be blessed by it. Creating a mandala brings happiness for all beings."

After an opening ceremony, the sand is carefully poured from the traditional metal funnels, called chakpur, in a process which lasts several days.

The sand is then carried in a procession to a nearby river into which it is poured "to disperse its healing energies throughout the world."

This final stage, the Puja Ceremony, takes place at 1400 BST on Sunday, with a procession from the Pierian Centre in Bristol to the nearby River Frome.