EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A sand mandala on display at the El Paso Museum of History was damaged after it was touched by a young visitor last week, museum officials said.

The museum said the youth and a parent later followed up with staff. After reviewing the circumstances, the museum chose not to pursue charges.

Sand mandalas are intricate works of art created grain by grain by skilled artists, officials said.

The museum said they are often displayed without glass barriers so visitors can experience their detail, craftsmanship and cultural significance up close.

The mandala was displayed for the recent Lunar New Year Celebration.

According to the museum, the medicine mandala was created by world-renowned Tibetan Buddhist monk Venerable Lama Losang Samten, who spent a week crafting the mandala out of sand for El Paso after flying in from Philadelphia last week.

Speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Thursday, Quetzaly Segovia, a museum curator for the El Paso Museum of History, said the vandalism was disheartening to see after the downtown celebration over the weekend.

“Unfortunately, this happened, and it was very sad for our community…we worked really hard for something special for our Asian community that celebrates Lunar New Year. This is actually our seventh year hosting the Lunar New Year in downtown El Paso, and we really want to continue this work for our community. You know, this is why we bring these kinds of artists and works to our downtown museums. It’s to bring light and positivity, and creativity to our region and to our museums like other cities,” Segovia said.

RELATED: El Paso Museum of History seeks suspect in vandalism of Lunar New Year sand mandala

That accessibility can create a more meaningful connection to the work, the museum said, but it also depends on visitors respecting the space and following posted guidelines.

Traditionally, sand mandalas are dismantled through a ceremonial ritual that is part of their spiritual significance, officials said.

El Paso Museum of History seeks suspect in vandalism of Lunar New Year sand mandala (Credit: El Paso Museum of History via FitFam)

The museum said the incident was an opportunity to educate and remind visitors about caring for shared cultural spaces, and it thanked the community for its understanding and continued support as it works to make art, culture and history accessible to all.

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