He bought 30,000 yuan's worth of yak butter the day after the quake and lit a dozen butter lamps at Gesar Square, where thousands of quake victims had by then pitched tents after their homes were destroyed.

"We figured there was not much left for us to do at the time because there was so many people working to save lives already," he said.

People soon started bringing more lamps and yak butter to Nanze. They asked him to light the butter lamps for them. He and his friends now light at least 4,000 butter lamps each day.

Many people, including monks and nuns, and volunteers from other parts of China, also offered to help.

The need for their service increased so quickly Nanze and his nine friends brought in another tent on Monday night to house more butter lamps, even as the ten of them cram into a tent of less than 20 square meters at night.

"We hope all people who come to us pray for all quake victims first and not just their lost family and friends," he said.

Nanze said if everything goes well, he and his friends will light the lamps for 49 days in accordance with local traditions. "I don't care about my business. What is more important is the butter lamps and praying for the dead," he said.

But they have done much more than that.

From April 17 to 19, Nanze and his friend Mala also provided food, including meat, vegetables and instant noodles, to those in need at Gesar Square.

They also brought with them two diesel engines to provide power for local residents to recharge their cell phone batteries and other electronic devices. They are also arranging with the local government free plane and car rides to help relief-work volunteers get home.

"We have so far helped 150 volunteers get home after they helped with the relief work here," said Mala, who lost her sister and sister-in-law in the quake.

What about 49 days later?

"I hope the souls of the dead can be blessed and the living can grow stronger," Nanze said.