When Tsering Ngodrup drove his new car home to celebrate the Tibetan New Year on Sunday, he found a jolly crowd of friends and relatives presenting hada and singing songs to congratulate him on his purchase.

The ceremony, known in Tibetan as "Mosur," is a new ritual that has become increasingly popular in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region these days to celebrate car purchases.

"Tashi Delek!" everybody said as they drank barley liquor and danced traditional Tibetan dances.

Tsering Ngodrup, a doctor at the People's Hospital in Xigaze, spent more than 70,000 yuan on a Chinese-made BYD F3 last week.

"Trips to my rural hometown will become much easier," he said.

Tsering Ngodrup visits his parents in Gyacoxung, a village in the suburbs of Xigaze City, every other week. From time to time, he visits his brother Soinam, a government employee in Lhasa.

As Soinam puts it, car purchases are not a big deal in today's Tibet. "I bought my first car eight years ago. Some of my colleagues have bought cars, too, and have turned the basketball field in our office compound into a car park."

Many farmers in the two brothers' hometown have also bought cars and trucks thanks to Tibet's economic boom and better road network.

"Gone are the days when Tibetans showed off their wealth with cattle, jewelry and clothing made of marmot hide," said Soinam. "As the people become richer, they buy cars, motorbikes, cell phones and computers instead."

Phurbu, manager of the plateau region's largest auto retailer, Tibet Auto Industry Co., said for two years running, he sold out of cars during the Tibetan New Year holidays. "In January alone, more than 100 cars were sold. Eighty percent were bought by farmers."

As a result, "Mosur" ceremonies are being held in many villages in rural Tibet during the holiday.

The ceremony, alongside modern housewarming and birthday parties, has joined traditional Tibetan rituals to celebrate a better life.

Drasang, a herder from Ngari Prefecture, is in the market for a sports utility vehicle. "They've run out of stock now. I'll place an order after the holiday."

Tibet's GDP grew by 12 percent to 43.7 billion yuan (6.4 billion U.S. dollars) last year. Tibetan peasants and herders' net per capita income, meanwhile, rose 13 percent to 3,589 yuan.

As a result of the economic boom, Tibet had almost 200,000 motor vehicles by the end of last year, according to figures released by the regional traffic police authority.

About half of the vehicles were registered in Lhasa. The city has about 95,000 motor vehicles, 70 percent of which are private cars.

The growing motor fleet has caused traffic jams, as well as emission and parking problems in Lhasa. Tibet's political advisors, gathering for the annual session last month, even suggested Lhasa follow Beijing's practice and restrict traffic flow through an odd-even license plate system.