"Yakbutter" Tibet Local Custom Tip by tompt

In every monastery you see the yakbutter lamps burning. The lamps are filled with yakbutter by the pilgrims. It is used because there is no smell when the fat butter is burning.
Originally it was real yakbutter from the yaks of the pilgrims. But today you can buy a yellow package in front of the monastery, it is not the real thing it is imported butter from India or elsewhere, mostly not even from the yak. Most pilgrims bring it in the yellow package, but you also see pilgrims with molten yakbutter in thermos cans.