Working on a mandala — a geometric design depicting spiritual symbols — two of the monks visiting Yachats apply individual grains of colored sand via metal funnels Tuesday. Visitors are welcome to watch the progress at the Commons. (Cheryl Romano/Lincoln Chronicle)

Four Tibetan Buddhist monks from Gaden Shartse Phukang Monastery in India are bringing colorful art, rituals and music to the coast this month. The monks will be at the Yachats Commons daily through Sunday, creating sacred sand mandalas and observing the Tibetan New Year. The monks are touring the coast to raise funds for housing, health and education at their monastery-in-exile in southern India.

**Pots of colored sand and metal tools used to make mandalas await the four visiting monks creating the geometric designs at the Yachats Commons this week.** (Cheryl Romano/Lincoln Chronicle)

The tour is organized by Lincoln County Friends of Tibet, the Lincoln County Cultural Center and the Yachats Chamber of Commerce. The monks will have lunch Sunday at St. Luke By the Sea Episcopal Church in Waldport followed by a guided meditation. Their next stop is in Newport, Tuesday, Feb. 24 to March 1 at the Samaritan Center for Health Education.

Visitors are welcome to watch mandalas being created, and share in a range of cultural presentations and healing rituals. When finished, the mandalas will be swept up, and the sand poured into the ocean as an offering to beings of the sea. All events are walk-up with suggested donations beginning at $10 for mandala viewing only. All proceeds go directly to the projects at the Indian monastery.

For a full schedule and more details, visit the Lincoln County Friends of Tibet website.