The Tibetan culture is known for traditional sand paintings, in which multicolored sand is delicately arranged in intricate mandalas, displayed for a time, and then ceremoniously swept away. The short-lived sand paintings are said to reflect the temporary nature of all material forms. A less well-known form of traditional art from the Tibetans is their butter sculpture. The largest and most elaborate of these are usually made around the time of the Tibetan New Year (Losar), when giant monuments are built of yak butter or ghee (clarified butter) mixed with fat and wax. Illuminated with colored lamps and decorated with colorful dyes, the intricate sculptures commemorate various traditional stories and fables. Like the sand paintings, the butter sculptures are temporary. After days, weeks, months, or years, they are ceremonially destroyed. Tibetan culture: 中国西藏文化 intricate mandalas: 错综复杂的道坛 for a time: 一段时间 ceremoniously: 隆重的 butter sculpture: 黄油雕塑 yak butter or ghee: 牦牛油和酥油 temporary: 暂时性的