In the mountainous valley of Bumtang, in Bhutan, two Tibetan Lamas (Yangsi Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche) and a group of Bhutanese monks have gathered on a rock by the river at the end of a ceremony that has lasted nine days and nine nights without interruption. Having created the ritual mandala using colored powders, they are now preparing to scatter the powders in the river. By dissolving the mandala in this way they are symbolizing the ephemeral nature of all things. June 2006.