As Losar, the Tibetan New Year, approaches next week, vibrant yak butter sculptures are stealing the spotlight in Xizang’s celebrations. These intricate artworks, called ziza, blend tradition, spirituality, and craftsmanship into edible masterpieces. 🌄
Crafted from yak milk and mineral pigments, the sculptures transform butter into dazzling depictions of Buddhist stories, blooming flowers, and wildlife. Each piece requires meticulous artistry passed down through generations—a practice recognized as national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.
🧈 Fun fact: The sculptures melt quickly, making their fleeting beauty a metaphor for life’s impermanence in Buddhist philosophy!
Losar celebrations kick off with home cleanings and rituals, culminating in gift exchanges and shrine offerings. Families display ziza to symbolize prosperity and devotion—proving that tradition and creativity are alive in the Himalayas. 🏔️
