Butter Art: Buddhist monks make sculptures with yak butter

In many cultures, and specially amongst the Tibetan Budhhist monks, sculpted butter is a form of art. Mineral pigments and colors are added to yak butter to create animals and other symbols like the dharma wheel. The sculptors must have cold fingers to prevent the butter from melting. The sculptures are called torma and thousands of them are displayed during The Butter Lamp Festival. The sculptures have a short life and are later fed to animals.