Diwali 2026 in Pembroke Pines: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🎆

• Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8 — mark your calendar now.
• The IRCC Florida Diwali Festival at the Broward County Convention Center is the largest public celebration in the county, drawing upward of 10,000 attendees.
• The Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida in neighboring Southwest Ranches holds traditional Lakshmi Puja on the main evening.
• Indian grocery essentials and puja supplies are available locally at Little Asia Market on N. University Drive in Pembroke Pines.
• Arrive at the temple early on the main night — parking fills up well before the lamp lighting begins.

Pembroke Pines sits at the heart of Broward County's South Asian community, and each autumn the city connects with a broader network of temples, cultural organizations, and local businesses that make Diwali feel close to home for Indian and Desi families here. Diwali 2026 — the Festival of Lights — lands on Sunday, November 8, the night of Amavasya in the Hindu month of Kartik. For the diaspora in South Florida, that date signals the start of the most social stretch of the Hindu calendar year.

The Main Evening: Lakshmi Puja in the Home and Temple

The anchor of Diwali for most Hindu households is the Lakshmi Puja: lamps lit at dusk, sweets passed among family members, and diyas set on windowsills and doorsteps. For Pembroke Pines families, the ritual often includes a visit to the Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida at 5661 Dykes Rd in Southwest Ranches, just minutes from the city. The temple was built by Mahabalipuram-trained craftsmen in a traditional South Indian architectural style and serves thousands of devotees across Broward County. It observes all major Hindu festivals — including Diwali, Holi, and Navratri — with collective puja sessions and cultural programs. On major festival evenings, the main hall fills long before the formal aarti begins.

Admission to the temple is free, and daily puja is offered throughout the year. The temple is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to noon and 6 PM to 9 PM, with extended hours on weekends from 9 AM to 9 PM. On Diwali evening, those hours typically stretch to accommodate the evening crowd.

Insider tip: Temple festivals in South Florida draw thousands of worshippers. If you plan to visit the Shiva Vishnu Temple on November 8, aim to arrive before 6 PM. The Dykes Road lot gets congested once the evening puja lines form, and street parking on the rural road fills up from both sides.

IRCC Florida Diwali Festival: The County's Landmark Community Event

The largest public Diwali celebration in Broward County is organized each year by the Indian Roots Cultural Center of Florida, better known as IRCC Florida. Their 12th annual Diwali Festival of Lights in 2024 was held at the Broward County Convention Center and drew an estimated 10,000 attendees. The program included Bollywood and classical dance performances featuring over 500 performers, live music, rangoli competitions, Indian and South Asian food stalls, and a vendor mela with clothing, jewelry, and home goods.

IRCC typically announces its Diwali Festival dates and ticket details in September or October. Past editions have been held on a Saturday in mid-November — a few days after the main Diwali night — to give the community time to organize. Tickets for the 2024 edition were $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Checking irccflorida.org in October 2026 will give you the confirmed date and venue for this year's edition.

The Convention Center is located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, roughly 20 minutes from Pembroke Pines — a straightforward drive for most of the county.

Diwali Shopping in Pembroke Pines: Where to Find Puja Supplies

Broward County's Indian grocery infrastructure has grown substantially over the years, and Pembroke Pines residents have a local option. Little Asia Market at 1756 N. University Dr. stocks Indian and Pakistani groceries, including spices, lentils, and specialty items that show up in the Diwali kitchen: besan for ladoos, semolina for halwa, and dry fruits for barfi. The shop has an established reputation for a wide range of products and a friendly atmosphere. For an even larger selection — Patel Brothers-scale inventory — a short drive to Fort Lauderdale or Sunrise opens up more options.

For diyas, decorative lighting strings, rangoli colors, and incense, check the South Asian import stores along University Drive and Pines Boulevard. Stock these items in October, because Diwali display goods move fast and some items go out of stock in the final two weeks before the festival.

Indian Dining Options for the Diwali Season

Not every family wants to cook on the main evening, and Pembroke Pines has options. Ellie's Desi Kitchen and The Mughal Restaurant are among the Indian food establishments in the city, both accessible through delivery platforms for the Pembroke Pines zip codes. North Indian staples — butter chicken, biryani, dal makhani, and naan — are the core of both menus. If you plan to order on Diwali night itself, place the order well in advance; delivery demand surges significantly on the evening of major Hindu festivals.

The Lead-Up: Navratri Through Dussehra

The 2026 Diwali season builds from Navratri, which runs October 11–20, and Dussehra on October 20. Broward County's Indian community observes Navratri with garba and dandiya nights organized by cultural groups, often in park facilities or community halls. Dussehra marks the 20-day countdown to Diwali. By the time the main evening arrives, families who have been celebrating the autumn festival season since early October are fully in the rhythm of it.

The Broward County School District added Diwali to its official school holiday calendar, a recognition of how deeply rooted the Indian American community has become in Broward. That change came after sustained advocacy from local South Asian organizations — a signal of the community's growing civic presence.

FAQ

When is Diwali 2026? Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The five-day festival runs from November 5 through November 9, with Lakshmi Puja on the main night of November 8.

Is there a public Diwali event near Pembroke Pines? Yes. The IRCC Florida Diwali Festival, historically held at the Broward County Convention Center in mid-November, is the area's largest public celebration. Check irccflorida.org for 2026 details.

Which Hindu temple near Pembroke Pines celebrates Diwali? The Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida at 5661 Dykes Rd, Southwest Ranches, is the closest and holds traditional Lakshmi Puja. Admission is free.

Where can I buy puja supplies in Pembroke Pines? Little Asia Market on N. University Drive stocks Indian groceries and festival goods. For a larger selection, stores in Fort Lauderdale or Sunrise carry full Diwali inventory.

Is Diwali a school holiday in Broward County? Yes. The Broward County School District added Diwali to its official holiday calendar following advocacy from Indian American community groups.

Bottom Line ✨

Pembroke Pines may not have a Diwali street parade, but the Indian and Desi community here has built a real infrastructure for the season: a South Indian temple minutes away, a major county-wide public festival, local grocery stores stocked for the occasion, and Indian restaurants ready for the main night. Diwali 2026 is November 8. Get the puja thali ready, check the IRCC Florida calendar in October, and plan your temple visit before the evening rush.