San Ramon: Khaki Opens at Bishop Ranch as Ganesh Temple and Holi Mark a South Asian Summer
🍛 Khaki Brings Upscale Indian Dining to San Ramon's Bishop Ranch
The teams behind two celebrated Bay Area South Asian restaurant concepts are joining forces on a new upscale Indian dining venue in San Ramon. Khaki — a collaboration between the groups behind Curry Up Now and Michelin Guide-recognized Tiya — is set to open for dinner on Thursday, July 31, at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road in City Center Bishop Ranch, the same address that previously housed a Curry Up Now outlet. Unlike its predecessor in that space, Khaki is conceived as a significantly more elevated dining experience. Eater San Francisco described the incoming restaurant as much more upscale than the typical Indian burrito outlet that Curry Up Now is known for, signaling a move toward fine-casual South Asian dining for the East Bay market. Curry Up Now has become a Bay Area institution through its approachable take on Indian street food, while Tiya has earned Michelin recognition for its contemporary South Asian cuisine in San Francisco. Together, the partners aim to create a concept that speaks to the neighborhood's appetite for quality and the South Asian community's desire for meaningful culinary representation. City Center Bishop Ranch, an outdoor lifestyle center in the heart of San Ramon, has steadily grown as a gathering place for diverse dining, and Khaki's arrival is expected to cement its status as a destination for Indian food in the broader East Bay region. [7]
🪔 Sri Karpaga Ganesh Temple Consecrated with Maha Kumbhabhishekam
A new Tamil Hindu temple in San Ramon held its Maha Kumbhabhishekam — the formal consecration ceremony — on November 10, 2025, preceded by four days of preparatory pujas and prayers. The Sri Karpaga Ganapathi Temple's dedication drew distinguished guests from Kauai Aadheenam, including Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Sannyasin Yoginathaswami, who traveled to the Bay Area specifically for the occasion. The temple was founded by Sivasri Suresh Viswanathan Sivacharyar. The chief priest for the consecration, Sivasri Swaminaha Sivacharyar, traveled from Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India, to preside over the rites, assisted by Sivasri Karthikeya Sivacharyar and Sivasri Balu Gurukkal. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam is among the most sacred rituals in Shaivite Hindu tradition — it formally installs and sanctifies the presiding deity and consecrates the temple as an active site of worship. The presiding deity here is Ganesha in the form of Karpaga Ganapathi, the wish-fulfilling aspect revered particularly in Tamil Shaivite practice. The temple, located in the Tri-Valley near San Francisco, provides the Tamil Hindu diaspora with a dedicated worship space grounded in traditional Agamic practice. The ceremony drew devotees from across the Bay Area and marked a meaningful milestone for Tamil Hindus in the region, who now have a formally consecrated home for their traditions. [1]
🎉 Holi Returns to Bishop Ranch for Its 15th Year
Bishop Ranch in San Ramon hosted its 15th annual Holi celebration on Sunday, April 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 2700 Camino Ramon, near the corner of Camino Ramon and Bishop Drive. The event is among the most established Holi festivals in the East Bay, drawing participants from across the Tri-Valley and beyond for an afternoon of color, music, performance, and food. Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil; it is celebrated through the throwing of bright colored powders and dyes, communal dancing, and festive eating. At the Bishop Ranch gathering, guests joined in color throwing alongside live music, dhol drummers, classical and folk dance performances, henna application, selfie stations, and food trucks offering a range of options. Admission was priced at ten dollars for adults, with children aged ten and under admitted free. The event was organized in partnership with City Center Bishop Ranch and reflects the South Asian community's deep cultural roots in the Tri-Valley. Now in its fifteenth year, the celebration has become a fixture of the local calendar and a welcoming opportunity for residents of all backgrounds to share in one of Hinduism's most joyful festivals. Its longevity speaks to the size and cohesion of the South Asian diaspora that calls San Ramon and the surrounding communities home. [3]
Drunk Driver Kills Castro Valley Woman in San Ramon Crash
A fatal collision in San Ramon on the afternoon of November 29, 2025, claimed the life of Alix Mari Sparks of Castro Valley. Badal Devendra Dholaria, a man of Indian origin, is accused of driving his vehicle at more than 120 miles per hour while intoxicated before colliding violently with an SUV. Police determined that alcohol was a contributing factor and that the extreme speed of the impact made the crash unsurvivable for Sparks. Dholaria was arrested following the collision and held at the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail was set at one point two million dollars. American Kahani reported that multiple criminal charges were filed in connection with the crash. The case received coverage from several Indian-American media outlets, which noted Dholaria's background while reporting on the circumstances of the incident. Sparks, the victim, had no reported connection to the South Asian community; she died from injuries sustained in the collision. The incident drew broader attention to concerns about impaired and high-speed driving on Bay Area roads. As of December 2025, Dholaria remained in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility pending further legal proceedings, and no trial date had been publicly announced at the time of reporting. The case continues to be a matter of public interest for the local community. [2]
Sources: [7] Eater San Francisco · [1] Hinduism Today · [3] Patch · [2] American Kahani