Navratri & Garba 2026 in Allen: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🎉

• Navratri 2026 starts October 11 and runs nine nights, with Durga Ashtami on October 18 as the devotional peak
• The Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas in Allen anchors the community's festival worship calendar
• Sri Siva Vishnu Temple serves both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions and is active during major Hindu festivals
• A standout pre-season cultural event: violinists RK Shriramkumar and VVS Murari perform a Carnatic duet in Allen on September 12
• Allen's rapidly growing South Asian community makes the northern DFW corridor one of Texas's most vibrant spots for Navratri

Navratri 2026 Dates: Mark Your Calendar

Nine nights. Nine forms of the Goddess. And in Allen, Texas, a community that takes Navratri seriously.

Navratri 2026 begins on October 11 and concludes with Vijayadashami on October 20. Durga Ashtami — the eighth night and the festival's devotional high point — falls on October 18, 2026. For families planning pujas, Garba outings, or temple visits, these are the anchor dates around which everything else orbits.

The weeks before Navratri also carry their own rhythm of observances. Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on September 14 — a celebration that marks the start of the festive season for many South Indian and Maharashtrian households. Close behind it are Ekadashi on September 22, Pradosh Vrat on September 24, and Purnima on September 26. By early October, with Ekadashi on the 6th and Pradosh Vrat on the 8th, devotional momentum in Allen's Hindu community is well and truly building.

For households that keep the Sankashti Chaturthi fast, September 29 is another date to note — a weekly rhythm of observance that ties together the pre-Navratri calendar.

Allen's Temple Scene: Where the Community Gathers

The Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, at 1450 N. Watters Road in Allen, is one of the most recognized Hindu temples in the northern DFW area. Architecturally striking and culturally active, it draws families not just from Allen but from across the DFW corridor for major festivals. During Navratri, the temple's schedule typically includes morning and evening pujas, abhishekam to the deities, and special bhajan programs through the nine nights. Visit radhakrishnatemple.net as October approaches for confirmed event times and any Garba programming the temple community may organize.

Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, located at 8774 N. Central Expy in Allen, serves a broad cross-section of the South Asian diaspora. The temple honors both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, making it inclusive across regional and sectarian lines. During Navratri, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple traditionally hosts special alankar, archana, and devotional events. The temple's active congregation and well-organized festival programming make it a reliable option for families who want structured worship with community around them.

Both temples sit within Allen's city limits — no long drives down the highway needed. That proximity matters during the Navratri season when families may be attending multiple evenings.

A Cultural Moment Before Navratri: Carnatic Violin at Its Finest

The festive season in Allen gets a significant cultural boost before Navratri even begins. On September 12, 2026, the Indian Fine Arts Academy of DFW presents a special violin duet featuring two titans of Carnatic music: RK Shriramkumar and VVS Murari. The concert, celebrating the Sangita Kalanidhi honor, is listed at ifaadfw.org/events with venue TBA.

Carnatic violin at this caliber — two Sangita Kalanidhi-adjacent masters sharing a stage — is not something that comes to North Texas every season. Whether you follow classical music closely or simply appreciate live performance at the highest level, this September 12 concert is worth attending. It sets a high cultural tone that carries beautifully into the Navratri season.

Garba in Allen: Community Nights and What to Expect

Garba is the social face of Navratri — the nights of circle dancing, dandiya sticks, colorful chaniya cholis, and the kind of communal energy that can only happen when a whole community comes together over nine nights.

In Allen and the broader North DFW area, Garba events have grown in scale over the past decade alongside the South Asian population. Plano, Frisco, Richardson, and Allen together form one of the densest concentrations of Indian Americans in Texas, and the Garba events that serve this corridor reflect that density. Community organizations, cultural associations, and sometimes temples themselves typically organize multi-night events with live or DJ music, food, and structured Garba rounds.

Specific 2026 venue announcements for Allen-area Garba had not been confirmed at publication time. However, based on the pattern of previous years, expect:

• Large hall Garba events announced in September for October dates
• Tickets selling out faster than most people expect — purchase early
• Dress code expectations that lean traditional for at least the main Garba nights
• Family-friendly formats that include younger children through Ashtami, with adult-focused late-night sessions on weekends

Social media groups for North Texas South Asian communities and temple WhatsApp channels are typically the fastest sources of Garba announcements when they drop.

Celebrating Navratri at Home in Allen

For many Allen families, Navratri is as much a home tradition as a community event. The nine nights lend themselves to:

Golu displays: The tradition of arranging dolls and figurines on tiered steps — practiced particularly in Tamil and Telugu households — turns homes into devotional galleries. Allen's active South Indian population means golu visits (kolu visits) between neighbors are a real Navratri social tradition here.

Nine forms, nine nights: Families who observe the Navadurga practice dedicate each night to a specific form of the Goddess, with corresponding colors, offerings, and mantras.

Fasting foods: Sabudana khichdi, kuttu ki puri, rajgira ladoo, singhara halwa, and fruit-based meals are the staples of the Navratri fast. Allen's South Asian grocery stores typically stock dedicated fasting sections through October.

Evening aarti: Many families hold daily aarti at home through the nine nights, often timing it to align with temple pujas even when not attending in person.

Insider Tip

Plan your Durga Ashtami temple visit early. At both Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas and Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, October 18 is the single busiest day of the Navratri season — the line for darshan starts forming well before opening time, and parking fills fast. If you can go on a weekday evening earlier in Navratri (October 12–16), you'll have a much more relaxed experience while still fully participating in the festival.

FAQ

When does Navratri 2026 start in Allen, TX? Navratri 2026 begins on October 11, 2026, and runs through October 20, with Durga Ashtami on October 18.

Which temples in Allen host Navratri events? Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas and Sri Siva Vishnu Temple are the two main Allen temples with active festival programming.

Where can I find Garba events near Allen for Navratri 2026? Announcements typically come out in September. Follow North Texas South Asian community groups, temple social media pages, and ifaadfw.org for confirmed Garba events and tickets.

What is the September 12 IFAA DFW concert? It is a Carnatic violin duet by RK Shriramkumar and VVS Murari, presented by the Indian Fine Arts Academy of DFW to celebrate the Sangita Kalanidhi honor. Details at ifaadfw.org/events.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026? Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on September 14, marking the start of the broader festive season ahead of Navratri.

Bottom Line 🙏

Allen's South Asian community has the temples, the cultural calendar, and the communal infrastructure to make Navratri 2026 genuinely memorable. Navratri begins October 11, peaks with Durga Ashtami on October 18, and is anchored by Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas and Sri Siva Vishnu Temple — both within the city. Add the pre-season cultural highlight of RK Shriramkumar and VVS Murari on September 12, keep an eye out for Garba announcements as October nears, and this festive season is shaping up to be one of Allen's best.