The Meredith College Department of Religion and Philosophy is hosting a weeklong series focusing on Tibetan art and culture.

The series, sponsored by Meredith's Mercer-Kessler Fund for Religion and Art, in cooperation with Raleigh's Kadampa Center, will feature the construction of a sand mandala, art events, and a traditional Buddhist prayer ceremony.

Monks from Sera Jay monastery in India will introduce Meredith audiences to Tibet's ritual music, dance, painting and other sacred arts.

"In particular, visitors are encouraged to observe the extraordinary skill, symbolism and selflessness of the Tibetan sand mandala, which the monks will construct over the course of the week and ultimately dissolve into emptiness at the closing ceremony on Thursday afternoon," said Margarita Suarez, assistant professor of religion and art, one of the series' organizers.

The full schedule of events for the Tibetan Art and Culture Series is below.

Monday, September 26 10 a.m. Opening Mandala Ceremony, Cate Center Lobby11 a.m.-12 p.m. Bookmaking & Calligraphy, Gaddy-Hamrick 2107 p.m. - 8 p.m. Snow Lion & Yak Dance, Carswell Hall

Tuesday, September 27 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Painting & Butter Sculpture, Gaddy-Hamrick 137

Wednesday, September 28 10 a.m. Traditional Buddhist Prayer Ceremony, Carswell Hall7 p.m.- 8 p.m. Video: Life in a Tibetan Monastery, Kresge Auditorium

Thursday, September 29 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Closing Mandala Ceremony, Beginning in Cate Center Lobby, Ending at the pond

For more information, call 919-760-8063.