Yak butter sculptures brighten Tibetan New Year celebrations in Xizang

adminFebruary 21, 2025February 21, 2025

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-02-20/Yak-butter-sculptures-brighten-Tibetan-New-Year-celebrations-in-Xizang-1B91eVUpHIk/img/452c1e94dee4417ebc1b1f81132b8f13/452c1e94dee4417ebc1b1f81132b8f13.jpeg'

Rows of Tibetan butter sculptures are displayed in Lhasa, Xizang on February 19, 2025. /VCG

These butter sculptures have appeared just in time for Tibetan New Year, which begins next week.

Known as “ziza” in the Tibetan language, the sculptures are crafted with refined yak milk that changes form when heated. This yak butter is mixed with mineral pigments to create the bright colors seen in the designs.

Flowers, trees, birds, animals and figures of humans and Buddha are seen in the sculptures, which often tell Buddhist stories. Tibetan butter sculptures were included in China’s national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006.

These items are a must-have for Tibetan New Year, or Losar, which is observed as a multi-day celebration in Xizang.

Losar customs begin with house cleaning on the penultimate day of the Tibetan calendar and progress to Tibetan New Year’s Day when people have an early bath, make sacrifices at shrines, and visit their neighbors to exchange gifts.

500-year-old Nanfeng Ancient Kiln in Foshan still in operation today

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN <img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN <img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN <img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen […]

Students transform fallen leaves into art in Hangzhou

A photo taken on December 9, 2023 shows an installation made from fallen leaves in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. /CFP A photo taken on December 9, 2023 shows an installation made from fallen leaves in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. /CFP A photo taken on December 9, 2023 shows people taking photos of an installation made from fallen […]

Pheasant-tailed jacanas make home in lotus pond

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-16/Pheasant-tailed-jacanas-make-home-in-lotus-pond-1Dq6bg4XBy8/img/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91.jpeg'Pheasant-tailed jacanas are seen at a lotus pond at Xianghu Wetland Park in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province on May 14, 2025. /VCG <img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-16/Pheasant-tailed-jacanas-make-home-in-lotus-pond-1Dq6bg4XBy8/img/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91.jpeg'Pheasant-tailed jacanas are seen at a lotus pond at Xianghu Wetland Park in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province on May 14, 2025. /VCG <img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-16/Pheasant-tailed-jacanas-make-home-in-lotus-pond-1Dq6bg4XBy8/img/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91/4afe32211bff459b8e18003c01713c91.jpeg'Pheasant-tailed jacanas are seen at a lotus pond at Xianghu […]

Related Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply