Dhanteras 2026 in Davie: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• 🕌 Davie's South Asian community is served by South Florida Hindu Society INC and South Florida Hindu Temple nearby
• Navratri 2026 on 11 October anchors the festival season; Durga Ashtami 2026 on 18 October is the peak
• Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November opens the Diwali 2026 cluster on 8 November
• Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October is the month's quieter but widely observed ritual for Indian families
• Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November extends the South Asian festival season into mid-November

Davie is one of Broward County's established South Asian residential hubs, with a community large enough to sustain regular cultural and religious programming. The town's festival calendar through October and November 2026 is anchored by two Hindu institutions nearby and by the broader Broward County South Asian events network. Here is what to know.

South Florida Hindu Society INC and South Florida Hindu Temple

South Florida Hindu Society INC at 5460 SW 42nd Street, Suite 1, Davie, FL 33314 is the community organisation that coordinates many of the Hindu cultural programmes in the Davie and Cooper City area. The Society is the administrative and event-management layer behind several of the South Asian cultural events in this part of Broward — festivals, puja programmes, and community gatherings are typically publicised through the Society's network.

South Florida Hindu Temple at 13010 W Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330 is the nearest major temple for Davie residents — reachable via Griffin Road westward. Contact is 954-252-8802 and sfht.org. The temple's multi-deity format and large hall capacity make it the natural venue for the Navratri 2026 Garba events and Diwali 2026 community programme that draw the largest crowds from Davie and the surrounding suburbs.

Navratri 2026 and Durga Ashtami 2026

Navratri 2026 begins on 11 October. For Davie's South Asian families, the nine nights primarily revolve around South Florida Hindu Temple's Garba and Navratri programming, supplemented by neighbourhood events organised through South Florida Hindu Society INC and local Gujarati community groups.

Durga Ashtami 2026 on 18 October is the festival's devotional high point. Temple pujas on this eighth night are the longest and most elaborate of the Navratri season, and the South Florida Hindu Temple's Ashtami programme typically includes extended bhajan sessions and community prasad. For families who can only attend one night of Navratri, Durga Ashtami 2026 is the one with the most concentrated religious observance.

Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 on 20 October marks the festival's end. The Ravan Dahan events — burning of Ravana effigy — take place at open grounds in Broward County on the evening of 20 October, with community organisations coordinating the logistics.

Dhanteras 2026, Diwali 2026, and Beyond

Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November opens the Diwali shopping period. Davie's Indian supermarkets and jewellery stores see their peak traffic on and around Dhanteras, with traditional purchases of gold and silver alongside new kitchen utensils. Pradosh Vrat on 7 November keeps the temple attendance elevated the evening before Diwali.

Diwali 2026 on 8 November is the year's main festival evening. South Florida Hindu Temple holds its Diwali programme with community prayer, lighting, and cultural performances. South Florida Hindu Society INC's network amplifies community events in Davie's residential areas — the neighbourhood visible through the collective lighting of homes and community spaces.

Bhai Dooj 2026 on 10 November rounds out the Diwali cluster, followed by Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November. Chhath Puja is distinct in character from the other festivals — the predawn riverside ritual dedicated to the sun god requires access to a water body, and South Florida's South Asian communities typically use public beach or lake access points for the morning arghya offering.

Karva Chauth 2026

Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October falls between Navratri and the Diwali cluster. The day's ritual — women fasting from sunrise until moonrise, then breaking the fast after sighting the moon — is observed across Davie's South Asian households. Community organisations and temple networks in Broward County often coordinate Karva Chauth gatherings for women, providing both a collective moonrise viewing space and a shared fast-breaking meal.

Insider Tip 💡

For Diwali 2026, Davie's proximity to the Indian commercial strip on Davie Road and University Drive means the Dhanteras shopping circuit — gold, silver, puja supplies, traditional clothing — is walkable or a short drive from most South Asian residential areas. Visiting the shops in the afternoon on 5 November (the day before Dhanteras) avoids the peak congestion that arrives on 6 November itself.

FAQ

Q: Where is South Florida Hindu Temple in relation to Davie? A: South Florida Hindu Temple is at 13010 W Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330 — approximately a 10-15 minute drive west of central Davie. Contact 954-252-8802 or visit sfht.org for the event calendar.

Q: When is Navratri 2026 and what happens in Davie? A: Navratri 2026 begins on 11 October and runs for nine nights. The main Garba events are held at South Florida Hindu Temple. South Florida Hindu Society INC coordinates neighbourhood events and publicises the festival programme across Davie's South Asian community.

Q: What is Chhath Puja 2026 and when is it? A: Chhath Puja 2026 falls on 15 November. It is a sun worship festival prominent among Bihar and Jharkhand communities. The key ritual is an evening arghya at sunset on 14 November followed by a predawn arghya on 15 November at a water body. South Florida communities typically use public beach or lake access for the outdoor ritual.

Q: When is Diwali 2026? A: Diwali 2026 is on 8 November, with Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November as the opening day of the Diwali period. South Florida Hindu Temple holds its Diwali programme on 8 November; check sfht.org for registration and timing.

Bottom Line

Davie's South Asian festival calendar through October–November 2026 runs from Navratri 2026 on 11 October through Diwali 2026 on 8 November and Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November. South Florida Hindu Society INC and South Florida Hindu Temple together provide the event infrastructure that organises most of the community's festival programming. Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October and Durga Ashtami 2026 on 18 October are the two mid-month dates worth marking separately from the main festival clusters.