Wooden mould "zanpar"

Offerings "torma" on Tibetan Buddhist altars are usually made of yak butter or "tsampa", a dough made from roasted barley flour, water, yak butter and milk.

The "zanpar", which always have several sides, are carved with ritual animals, deities, demons and Buddhist symbols, which were pressed into the offerings made of dough or butter.

The dough moulds are said to have been used in sacrificial and funerary rituals. According to other sources, they were associated with protection and above all healing.