Sandpainting is the art of pouring colored sands, powdered pigments from minerals or crystals, and pigments from other natural or synthetic sources onto a surface to make a painting. These are often ritual paintings for religious or healing ceremonies. It is also referred to as drypainting. Sandpainting is practised by Native Americans in the Southwestern United States, by Tibetan monks, by Indians, by Australian Aborigines, and by Latin Americans on certain Christian holy days.