Dussehra 2026 in Livermore: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🎊

• Livermore is home to the Shiva Vishnu Temple, one of the most significant South Asian sacred sites in the entire Bay Area
• The Hindu Community and Cultural Center (HCCC) at the temple organises Navratri and Dussehra celebrations that draw thousands from across the East Bay
• Sansar Indian Cuisine and Little India Restaurant & Bar are both solid choices for a festive meal in town
• The Tri-Valley's Indian population has grown substantially, making this a genuinely local celebration — not a drive to San Jose
• Book early: the Shiva Vishnu Temple's Dussehra puja draws very large attendance

Livermore's Secret Desi Heart 🏛️

Ask most Bay Area residents to name the region's great Hindu temple and they will say San Jose, or Fremont. Livermore's answer — the Shiva Vishnu Temple at 1232 Arrowhead Avenue — tends to surprise people outside the East Bay. It should not. The Hindu Community and Cultural Center was incorporated in 1977, and when the Livermore temple opened in 1986, it was among the earliest purpose-built South Indian Hindu temples in California. Today, after nearly four decades and several expansions, it draws devotees from as far as Tracy, Mountain House, and across the South and East Bay.

For the Dussehra season, the HCCC is the unambiguous centre of gravity. Its Navratri and Vijayadashami programming is detailed and well-organised, reflecting the institutional maturity of an organisation that has been running major festivals continuously since the 1980s. Thousands of devotees attend over the ten days of Navratri, and the Dussehra puja on the final day is the peak.

The Shiva Vishnu Temple: What to Know Before You Visit

The temple at 1232 Arrowhead Avenue contains shrines to multiple deities — Shiva and Vishnu in its name, but also Venkateswara, Rama, Lakshmi, and others — and its architecture follows the South Indian Agamic tradition, executed by craftspeople brought specifically for the construction. The result is a legitimately striking building, not a converted commercial space, and it functions both as a place of worship and as a cultural and educational hub.

During the Dussehra season, the temple hosts special pujas each evening of Navratri, typically beginning around 6 or 7 PM. The Saraswati Puja (the ninth day, Navami) and the Vijayadashami ceremony (the tenth day) are the most attended. Families bring books, instruments, and vehicles for the Saraswati Puja blessing — a charming tradition that produces an unusual carpark scene on that particular evening.

The HCCC also runs a langar-style free food programme, and during major festivals the temple feeds visitors at no cost. Confirming the specific schedule for 2026 is important — hours and the order of ceremonies can shift slightly with the lunar calendar, and the HCCC publishes its event details on its own channels.

Insider Tip: If you are attending with children, the best moment is often not the main puja but the procession and the closing ceremony on Vijayadashami evening. The music, the lights, and the general atmosphere are at their most vivid then. Arrive 45 minutes early to find parking — the surrounding residential streets fill up on popular festival evenings — and confirm how long you can leave your car.

Navratri Garba in the Tri-Valley

Garba has become, across the South Asian diaspora, the social event of the Navratri season, and the Tri-Valley does not disappoint. Community organisations and temple groups typically organise multiple Garba evenings at local halls and event spaces throughout the nine nights, drawing both observant families and people who come primarily for the dancing and the social connection.

The HCCC and various South Asian cultural associations in Fremont, Dublin, and Pleasanton often list joint events, and these can be a good way to encounter the breadth of the Bay Area's Indian community all at once. Check announcements from the Shiva Vishnu Temple and local community groups from mid-September onward for confirmed venues and ticketing.

Where to Eat: Dussehra Dinner in Livermore

After an evening at the temple, Livermore's downtown dining options are a short drive away.

Sansar Indian Cuisine on First Street has built a steady following in the downtown area. The menu covers both North and South Indian cooking, which is fitting for a city whose Indian community is itself drawn from across the subcontinent — there are Tamilian, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Malayali families all within a short drive of Livermore. Sansar's atmosphere tends to be relaxed, which makes it a comfortable choice for multi-generational family groups returning from the temple.

Little India Restaurant & Bar, also on First Street, offers a broader menu and a bar alongside its Indian food. It is a good option for groups that include non-Desi guests or younger adults who want something livelier than a quiet dinner.

Confirm hours before you go — both restaurants can have adjusted schedules around major festival evenings, and popular slots book up quickly.

The Broader Community Context

The Shiva Vishnu Temple has been a primary institution for Livermore's Indian community for nearly forty years, but the community around it has changed considerably. The East Bay's tech corridor has drawn a large wave of South Asian professionals to Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin since the early 2000s, and the demographic profile of who attends Dussehra today is different from what it was in 1990 — more second-generation families, more people who grew up in California, and more attendees who connect the festival to personal family memory rather than to childhood practice in India.

This layering of old institution and newer community is what makes the HCCC particularly interesting. It is simultaneously one of the most traditional Hindu temples in Northern California — in its architecture, its priesthood, its rituals — and a gathering place for a diaspora that is several generations into its own California story.

FAQ

Do I need to be Hindu or Indian to attend the Shiva Vishnu Temple on Dussehra? The temple welcomes visitors of all backgrounds. Non-Indian guests are welcome to observe ceremonies respectfully, though dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the main hall.

When exactly is Dussehra in 2026? Vijayadashami falls on the tenth day of Navratri, and the date varies each year by the Hindu lunar calendar. Check the HCCC's published calendar or a reliable panchang for the confirmed 2026 date.

Is there parking at the Shiva Vishnu Temple? Yes, but it is limited. On major festival evenings it fills quickly. Arrive early or plan to park in surrounding streets.

Are there vegetarian options at Sansar Indian Cuisine? Yes. South Indian cuisine is heavily vegetarian, and Sansar's menu reflects this with a significant range of vegetarian dishes alongside non-vegetarian options.

What should I bring to Dussehra puja at the temple? For a general visitor, nothing is required — the temple provides prasad. If you want to offer puja personally, flowers and fruits are appropriate, and the temple or local grocery stores can advise on specific items for Vijayadashami.

The Bottom Line

Livermore's Dussehra centres on one of California's great Hindu temples, and that is reason enough to make the journey. The Shiva Vishnu Temple's Dussehra ceremonies are the product of nearly four decades of institutional effort, and the atmosphere at the Vijayadashami puja is genuinely moving. Pair the temple visit with dinner at Sansar Indian Cuisine or Little India, and if you can, spend at least one evening at Garba during the Navratri lead-up. The Tri-Valley's Indian community is large, warm, and well-organised — and Dussehra is when it shows.

Explore the full Livermore Desi directory at desi.net/livermore.