(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Feeling stressed? This mandala-shaped Neighbors Sudoku provides a mindful experience, perfect for decompressing.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Mandala

Author/Opus: This is the 181st puzzle from clover!, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Outside clues indicate pairs of numbers which must appear immediately adjacent to each other (in either order) within that row or column. (For instance, in the second row 3 and 8 must be immediately adjacent as well as 4 and 5.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: meditating Montanoceratops.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:02, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.