Beautiful  butter sculpture. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

According to the local custom, a splendid butter sculpture exhibition will be held on every Butter Sculpture Festival (January 15 on the Tibetan calendar) during the Losar dharma ritual.

Butter sculpture is a unique art of the ethnic Tibetan group. And in Tibetan monasteries, lamas are assigned to learn this handiwork and make butter sculptures on various occasions.

When evening falls on that day, Jokhang Temple will display all kinds of  sculptures made of yak butter in the Buddha Hall, such as Buddhist statues, figures, flowers and trees, together with butter lamps to pray for peace and good luck.

Superb skills are needed to make butter sculptures. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Making butter sculptures in JokhangTemple. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Great care is needed during the process. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Butter sculptures in the design of flowers “blossom" in water. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Lamas from Jokhang Temple make butter sculptures. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Vivid sculpture of Master Tsongkhapa. [Photo/China Tibet Online] 

Excellent craftsmanship [Photo/China Tibet Online]