Maitighar Mandala

The Maitighar Mandala (Nepali: माइतीघर मण्डला) is a historical monument located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Mandala was built in 2001 for the 11th SAARC summit in Nepal to showcase Nepali culture.^[1]

During the Nepalese Civil War, peace advocates gathered at the Mandala to show solidarity for peace and against violence.^[2]

The Mandala was designed to be in the form of a series of concentric circles. The outer-most has 32 vajras, the one next to it has 16 lotus petals and the inner has 32 garlands. Various colors on the Mandala (blue background; black, orange, and blue circles) symbolise man's characteristics, too much of one would result in an imbalanced temperament. Black stands for क्रोध (anger), orange for माया (love) and blue for करूणा (compassion). At the four corners of the mandala are symbols of the ashtamangal.^[2]

By 2010, however, the Mandala artwork fell into disrepair. In 2011, the Asian Development Bank pledged to devote resources to restore the Mandala.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Maitighar Mandala to regain its lost charm". The Hindustan Times. 22 Jun 2011. http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=26&articleID=1595394. Retrieved 3 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Phoboo, Abha Ali (Oct 2005). "Shanti mandala". WAVE Magazine. http://www.wavemag.com.np/issue/article258.html. Retrieved 3 July 2011.