"The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan" exhibit will remain open at the Honolulu Academy of Arts for an extra weekend this month, during which monks will perform a special ritual.

After consulting with Lopon Ugyen Dorji, principal of Pangrizampa Temple in Thimphu district and the foremost astrologer in Bhutan, the Honolulu Academy of Arts obtained permission to extend the closing from May 23 to May 25.

"In consideration of the importance and popularity of the exhibition, we wanted to give visitors a last weekend to be able to see "The Dragon's Gift," Academy of Arts director Stephen Little said in a news release.

To mark the closing, the five monks in residence will today start a sand mandala, which according to custom is consecrated then dispersed. On May 24, the monks will perform a ritual at 10 a.m. and will give small bags of sand from the mandala to visitors, before dispersing the colorful sand at an as yet to be announced location.

Vicki Reisner, director of volunteer and visitor services, said since the exhibition opened on Feb. 26, the academy's attendance has increased 100 percent.

Admission to "The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan" is $10 (in addition to the regular $10 museum admission). For more on the exhibition, go to www.honoluluacademy.org/dragonsgift. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; and is closed Monday.