Diwali 2026 in San Ramon: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🪔

• San Ramon's large South Asian tech-worker population makes it one of the Bay Area's most active Diwali communities 🎊
• Sri Datta Sai Mandir on San Ramon Valley Blvd is the city's cornerstone temple for Diwali puja 🛕
• HCCC Shiva Vishnu Temple in nearby Livermore runs a multi-day Diwali Mela drawing thousands from across the Tri-Valley ✨
• Tri-Valley Desi, the region's community hub, curates a Diwali events calendar for San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, and Danville 📅
• Lakshmi Puja muhurtas for 2026 fall in late October—confirm exact timing with Drik Panchang or your local temple

Diwali in San Ramon: A Community in Full Celebration

San Ramon sits at the eastern edge of Contra Costa County, and its rapid growth since the 1990s has been shaped in large part by Indian and South Asian technology professionals who settled here drawn by major corporate campuses and top-ranked school districts. The result is a city where October and November bring noticeable signs of the festive season: decorative lights on quiet cul-de-sacs, the smell of mithai from local Indian grocery stores, and full parking lots at the region's Hindu temples.

Diwali, the festival of lights, marks the new year on the Hindu lunar calendar and carries deep significance across Indian communities—whether the family tradition is a Lakshmi Puja, a community stage show, or simply fireworks and sweets with neighbors. In the San Ramon area, the celebration is spread across a cluster of temples, cultural organizations, and community spaces that serve the broader Tri-Valley.

Sri Datta Sai Mandir

Sri Datta Sai Mandir, located on San Ramon Valley Blvd in San Ramon, is a spiritual and cultural center rooted in the teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba and Dattatreya. The temple is open 365 days a year and follows the traditional four-Aarti format observed at Shirdi: the Kakad (morning), Madhyan (noon), Dhoop (evening), and Shej (night) rituals. For Diwali, the temple organizes community pujas including Lakshmi Aarti and invites families to participate in the ceremonial lighting of lamps. Grand festivals are marked with additional prayers and cultural programs throughout the season. The temple also hosts Hindi language classes for children on Saturdays, making it a year-round anchor for families seeking to maintain cultural and religious practice.

HCCC Shiva Vishnu Temple 🏛️

The Hindu Community and Cultural Center (HCCC) operates the Shiva Vishnu Temple at 1232 Arrowhead Avenue in Livermore—a short drive east along I-580 from San Ramon. It is one of the largest and most active Hindu temples in Northern California and draws worshippers from across the Tri-Valley and beyond.

For Diwali, HCCC organizes a multi-day celebration that typically includes Lakshmi Puja, cultural performances, classical music and dance programs, and the lighting of traditional oil lamps throughout the temple grounds. The HCCC also collaborates with Tri-Valley cities to organize community Diwali Melas—open-air events that bring together cultural performances, artisan stalls, and food vendors in a family-friendly outdoor format. These events regularly draw thousands of attendees from San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, and surrounding communities.

Tri-Valley Desi: The Community Calendar

Tri-Valley Desi is the region's dedicated community platform connecting Indian-Americans across San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Danville. It covers religious events, cultural performances, and community announcements. In the weeks leading up to Diwali, the site aggregates event listings from local temples, civic organizations, and cultural groups. If you want to track what is happening across the Tri-Valley for the festive season—from Navratri garba nights to Diwali stage shows—this is the resource to bookmark.

Planning Your Puja at Home

Many San Ramon families observe a home Lakshmi Puja on the main Diwali night, the Amavasya of Kartik month. For 2026, the festival falls in late October. You can find exact muhurta timings calculated for San Ramon's latitude and longitude on Drik Panchang, which provides city-specific puja timings. Indian grocery stores in the area—concentrated along Bollinger Canyon Road and in nearby Dublin—carry full puja kits, diyas, rangoli colors, and mithai selections in the weeks before the holiday.

Insider Tip 💡

Book temple puja slots early. Sri Datta Sai Mandir and HCCC Shiva Vishnu Temple both fill quickly for Diwali Archana and special Lakshmi Puja slots. Most temples open online registrations two to four weeks before the festival. Check each temple's official website directly rather than waiting for social media announcements, which often appear after slots are already gone.

FAQ

Q: When is Diwali in 2026? A: Diwali in 2026 falls on October 28, the main puja night on Amavasya in Kartik month. Related festivals—Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, and Bhai Dooj—span the five-day period around this date. Confirm local puja muhurtas using Drik Panchang for San Ramon-specific timings.

Q: Are Diwali events at HCCC Shiva Vishnu Temple open to the public? A: Yes, the temple and its major festival celebrations are open to the general public. Large community events like the Diwali Mela are typically free or low-cost. Check the temple's calendar for registration requirements for specific pujas or stage programs.

Q: Is there a public Diwali event at Bishop Ranch City Center in San Ramon? A: Bishop Ranch City Center has previously featured Rangoli art installations and outdoor Diwali programming coordinated with the broader community. Check the City of San Ramon's Parks and Community Services department for any scheduled 2026 events closer to the holiday.

Q: Where can I find Diwali puja supplies in San Ramon? A: Indian grocery stores in San Ramon and neighboring Dublin carry puja kits, diyas, incense, and mithai. Larger Indian supermarkets in Fremont and Milpitas offer a broader selection for specialty items.

Q: Can I attend Hindi classes for my children at Sri Datta Sai Mandir? A: The temple offers Hindi language instruction for children on Saturdays. Contact the temple directly for enrollment information and current schedule details.

Bottom Line

San Ramon's Indian-American community has built a robust Diwali infrastructure over decades of settling in the Tri-Valley. Sri Datta Sai Mandir brings the celebration home with on-site puja and community gatherings. HCCC Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore delivers the region's most expansive multi-day Diwali Mela. And Tri-Valley Desi keeps the community informed and connected throughout the festive season. For Diwali 2026, the Tri-Valley has something for every kind of celebration.