Janmashtami 2026 in Paramus: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• 🪔 Paramus's South Asian calendar runs from Navratri 2026 (11 October) straight through Diwali 2026 (8 November)
• ISKCON of Bergen County at 643 Forest Ave is the community's main temple anchor for the season
• Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA - NJ at 205 Spring Valley Rd hosts programmes throughout the festive stretch
• Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November and Diwali 2026 on 8 November bring the period to its peak
• Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October and Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November extend the season's reach

Paramus sits at the heart of Bergen County's South Asian corridor — one of the densest concentrations of Indian households in New Jersey — and the October-November festive season is when that community density becomes visible in neighbourhood streets, temple forecourts, and shopping centres across the township. Here is what the calendar holds for Paramus's Desi community between Navratri and Chhath Puja 2026.

Navratri to Dussehra: October's Opening Arc

Navratri 2026 begins on 11 October and anchors the month's first major festive arc. Bergen County's South Asian community has enough Gujarati households to sustain Garba and Dandiya events every year, and Paramus residents benefit from proximity to multiple community halls in the broader county that host nine-night programmes. The devotional calendar opens earlier with Ekadashi on 6 October and Pradosh Vrat on 8 October — quieter household observances — before Amavasya on 10 October marks the new moon preceding Navratri's first night.

ISKCON of Bergen County at 643 Forest Ave, Paramus, is an active centre throughout the Navratri period. The temple's programme calendar typically includes evening kirtans, special arati sessions on Durga Ashtami 2026 (18 October), and community prasad distributions that bring the neighbourhood's Vaishnava households together. Contact the temple at (201) 926-9079 or through its website at iskconofbergen.org for confirmed timings.

Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 on 20 October closes the Navratri arc. Ravan Dahan events in Bergen County draw South Asian families from across the county; Paramus residents typically have easy access to whichever community organisation in the area hosts the effigy burning. The evening of 20 October is a family occasion in most Desi households — many plan the outing well in advance and arrange carpools through neighbourhood networks.

Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA - NJ

Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA - NJ at 205 Spring Valley Rd, Paramus, NJ 07652, provides a second major institutional anchor for the festive season. The Swaminarayan community observes Navratri, Diwali, and the intervening dates with structured programmes, often including community sabhas and youth activities alongside the core devotional calendar. Contact: +1-201-882-5815, and the New Jersey Rajkot Gurukul site (newjersey.rajkotgurukul.org) for the season's programme schedule.

The presence of both an ISKCON temple and a Swaminarayan centre within Paramus means the community's two largest Vaishnava traditions have institutional representation in the same township — an unusual level of density for a suburban New Jersey community. Families affiliated with one or both organisations will find the October-November schedule unusually full.

Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, and Diwali 2026

The month's second arc begins with Ekadashi on 21 October and builds through Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October, the fast observed by married women for their husbands' long life. This observance, more a household and community ritual than a temple event, brings together South Asian women in Paramus for sargi (pre-dawn meal), day-long fasting, and the moonrise ceremony in the evening. Sargi preparations in Paramus are facilitated by Indian groceries along Route 17 and in the Patel Brothers/international grocery strip nearby.

Pradosh Vrat on 6 November coincides with Dhanteras 2026, the first day of the Diwali sequence. Dhanteras is the auspicious day for purchasing gold, silver, or new utensils — a tradition observed by Gujarati, Marathi, and North Indian households alike. Paramus's proximity to the gold jewellery shops and Indian grocery clusters of Lodi, Iselin, and Edison makes it straightforward for families to fulfil the Dhanteras purchase tradition without extended travel.

Diwali 2026 falls on 8 November, coinciding with Amavasya — the new moon that makes the festival's fireworks and diyas most visible. South Asian households across Paramus light diyas, exchange mithai, and gather for community events. Bhai Dooj 2026 on 10 November continues the celebration for siblings.

Insider Tip 💡

The Route 17 corridor between Paramus and Lodi sees its heaviest South Asian retail activity in the two weeks before Diwali. For mithai, fresh flowers, puja supplies, and new clothing, the weekday window in late October is significantly less congested than the weekends immediately before Dhanteras and Diwali.

Chhath Puja 2026

Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November is the final major observance of the season for North Indian — particularly Bihari and Eastern UP — households in Paramus. This four-day Sun worship observance requires access to a water body for the sunset and sunrise arghya rituals. Bergen County's South Asian community has in recent years organised Chhath Puja ghats at designated waterfront locations; check with the local Bihari community association or the nearest temple for 2026 event details.

FAQ

Q: Where do South Asian families in Paramus celebrate Navratri 2026? A: ISKCON of Bergen County at 643 Forest Ave (phone (201) 926-9079) and Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA - NJ at 205 Spring Valley Rd (+1-201-882-5815) are the main temple anchors. Community Garba events are also held at Bergen County venues; check Indian community boards and temple websites in late September.

Q: When is Diwali 2026 in Paramus? A: Diwali 2026 falls on 8 November. Dhanteras 2026 precedes it on 6 November, and Bhai Dooj 2026 follows on 10 November.

Q: Where can I find puja supplies in Paramus for Diwali? A: Indian grocery stores along Route 17 and in nearby Lodi stock puja items. Demand is highest in the week before Dhanteras, so shopping a few days early gives better selection.

Q: Does ISKCON of Bergen County hold Diwali programmes? A: ISKCON temples typically observe Diwali with Govardhan Puja programmes. Contact the Paramus temple at (201) 926-9079 for the 2026 Diwali programme schedule.

Bottom Line

Paramus's South Asian community runs one of Bergen County's more active festive calendars between Navratri 2026 on 11 October and Chhath Puja 2026 on 15 November. ISKCON of Bergen County and Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA - NJ anchor the institutional programme, while the community's density makes household observances — Karva Chauth, Dhanteras 2026, Diwali 2026, Bhai Dooj — a neighbourhood-wide affair. Connect with either temple in late September for confirmed event listings; the schedule fills out quickly once October begins.