Lubhu, Lalitpur

Lubhu लुभू Suvarna Chhatrapur (सुवर्ण छत्रपुर)
Village of Mahalaxmi Municipality
The Mahalakshmi–Mahabhairav Temple in Lubhu
Lubhu Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 27°38′N 85°23′E
Country	Nepal
Province	Bagmati Province
District	Lalitpur
Municipality	Mahalaxmi
Ward/s	7 and 8
Population  (2011)
• Total	10,374
Time zone	UTC+5:45 (Nepal Time)
Postal code	44708
Area code	01
Website	http://www.lubhoo.com.np/

Lubhu (Nepal Bhasa: लुभू) is a place that is part of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Bagmati Province of central Nepal. Lubhu is a sub-urban Newar location situated seven kilometers east of Kathmandu in northern part of Lalitpur, Nepal.

Etymology

There are interesting folklores explaining how Lubhu, which in Newari means “Golden Plate” got its name.

In ancient time, Lubhu was hit by disease. Ganga Maharani, the ruler of the city, sold her golden plate and resettles the city. So, the city was called Lubhu which means Golden Plate.

God Bhairav laid under golden umbrella to save the people from disease. The place was then called ‘Subarna Chhatrapur’ but was called ‘Lubhu’, which means the same in Newari.

Demographics

The settlement in the 730 acres of land of Lubhu is mostly populated by an ethnic Newari community of mainly Shresthas, Maharjans, Rajthala and Gubhaju in the main town area and Brahmin and chhetri in the outskirts.

Festival

Mahalaxmi jatra is the main festival of Lubhu. It is celebrated in the month of Baishakha especially from Baishakha Sukla Tritiya till to Ekadasi which takes more than a week for its completion. During the festival, the idols of Goddess Mahalaxmi and Lord Mahabhairav are placed in elaborately decorated wooden palanquins (khat) and carried through the streets of Lubhoo. The procession is accompanied by traditional Newar music, dances, and rituals performed by local cultural groups such as the Lubhoo Dafa Manka Khala and Chatrapal Mahabhairav Manka Khala. The event draws large crowds and active participation from the local community.

A key feature of the festival is the Newari Baja, a traditional ensemble of musical instruments that includes the Dhime, Nayaa Khin, Dhaa, Khin, Basuri (bamboo flute), and Bhushya (cymbals). These instruments are played in rhythmic patterns that energize the procession and invite community participation through dance and chanting. The music not only enhances the festive atmosphere but also serves as a cultural expression of the Newar identity. In recent years, the Lubhoo Dhaa Khala has played a pioneering role in promoting gender inclusion in Newar musical traditions. Once a male-dominated domain, the group has been training and empowering a new generation of Newari women musicians, who now actively perform during jatras and major festivals. This shift marks a significant cultural transformation and contributes to the preservation and revitalization of Newar heritage.

Economy

Lubhu is a major textile-production area producing locally made garments. Lubhu is a major source of garments of many Nepalese cloth industries and tourist areas like Thamel. A majority of households have their own small to large scale factories to produce such garments. While some still have the traditional wooden hand looms, many residents own textile factories with electric looms.

Agriculture is also a major occupation.

External links

• UN map of the municipalities of Lalitpur District