San Ramon: New Ganesh Temple Consecrated, Holi Returns to Bishop Ranch, Khaki Restaurant Opens, and a Fatal DUI Crash
San Ramon's South Asian community has seen both celebration and grief in recent months. A newly built Ganesha temple received its formal consecration ceremony in November, and Bishop Ranch is preparing to welcome its 15th annual Holi festival this spring. A new Indian restaurant backed by the teams behind Curry Up Now and Tiya is set to open at City Center Bishop Ranch, while the community also mourns a fatal crash caused by a drunk driver of Indian origin.
🪔 Sri Karpaga Ganapathi Temple Consecrated in San Ramon
The Sri Karpaga Ganapathi Temple in San Ramon, California, reached a landmark moment when its Maha Kumbhabhishekam, the traditional Hindu temple consecration ceremony, was conducted on November 10, 2025. The formal dedication was the result of sustained effort by the local Tamil Hindu community to establish a place of devotion in the East Bay. In keeping with Agamic tradition, the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was preceded by four full days of preliminary pujas and prayers, creating a spiritually prepared atmosphere before the main consecration rites. Distinguished guests made the journey from the Kauai Aadheenam in Hawaii to attend the occasion. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Sannyasin Yoginathaswami of Kauai Aadheenam were present at the event, a gesture that reflected the wider significance of this temple opening for Hindu communities beyond the Bay Area. The temple was founded by Sivasri Suresh Viswanathan Sivacharyar. Presiding over the consecration as chief priest was Sivasri Swaminaha Sivacharyar, who traveled from Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India, for the occasion. He was assisted in the ceremonies by Sivashri Karthikeya Sivacharyar and Sivasri Balu Gurukkal. The opening of the Sri Karpaga Ganapathi Temple provides San Ramon's South Asian Hindu community with a dedicated space for religious practice, cultural continuity, and community gathering in the heart of the East Bay. [1]
🎉 Holi Festival Returns to Bishop Ranch for Its 15th Year
Bishop Ranch in San Ramon is preparing to welcome its 15th annual Holi celebration on Sunday, April 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will be held at 2700 Camino Ramon, near the intersection of Camino Ramon and Bishop Drive, one of the East Bay's most well-known outdoor shopping and community gathering destinations. Holi is a traditional Hindu festival that carries deep cultural and spiritual meaning. It marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil, and is celebrated widely across the Indian subcontinent and in diaspora communities throughout the world. The festival is known for its joyful spirit and the tradition of participants throwing brightly colored dyes on one another, creating a vivid, communal experience open to people of all backgrounds. The Bishop Ranch event offers the full range of Holi festivities. Attendees can look forward to colorful dye throwing, live music performances, dhol drummers, dancing, henna artistry, selfie stations, food trucks, and a variety of stage performances. The celebration is designed to be welcoming to all ages, making it a genuine community event that has grown steadily in scale and attendance over its fifteen years at this location. Admission is priced at $10 per person. Children aged 10 and under are admitted at no charge. Tickets are available for purchase through the Bishop Ranch online ticketing platform. [3]
🍛 Khaki Restaurant to Bring Elevated Indian Cuisine to City Center Bishop Ranch
A significant new addition to the San Ramon dining scene is on the way. Khaki, an Indian restaurant created by the combined teams behind Curry Up Now and the Michelin Guide-recognized Tiya, is scheduled to open for dinner on Thursday, July 31. The new restaurant will be located at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road within City Center Bishop Ranch, occupying a space that was previously home to a Curry Up Now outlet. The collaboration between these two Bay Area restaurant groups brings together considerable experience and a strong reputation in South Asian cuisine. Curry Up Now has earned a wide following for its casual, inventive approach to Indian street food, with a footprint that extends well beyond the Bay Area. Tiya carries a Michelin Guide listing and represents a more refined, upscale interpretation of South Asian cooking. The partnership behind Khaki bridges these two sensibilities in an ambitious new direction. According to Eater San Francisco, Khaki will be distinctly more upscale than the typical Indian burrito concept that Curry Up Now is best known for, signaling a notably elevated dining experience for the area. City Center Bishop Ranch has steadily grown as a destination for dining and community activity in the East Bay, and Khaki is positioned to become a meaningful draw for lovers of Indian cuisine across the broader region. [8]
Fatal DUI Crash in San Ramon Claims One Life
A fatal traffic collision in San Ramon on the afternoon of November 29 resulted in the death of Alix Mari Sparks of Castro Valley. Badal Devendra Dholaria was driving his vehicle at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour while under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. The violent collision claimed Sparks's life at the scene. Following the incident, Dholaria was taken into custody and was being held at the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail was set at $1.2 million. The case drew attention in Indian-American media in part because Dholaria is of Indian origin. The crash serves as a sobering reminder of the grave dangers of impaired driving and of the lasting harm such incidents inflict on families and communities. Alix Mari Sparks was from Castro Valley, a community adjacent to San Ramon, and her death in a preventable collision reflects the ongoing public safety concern around drunk driving throughout California. Law enforcement confirmed the circumstances of the crash and the charges against Dholaria following the incident. The broader South Asian community has responded with reflection on the responsibility that comes with operating a vehicle and the irreversible consequences of choices that endanger other lives. The community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Alix Mari Sparks. [2]
Sources: [1] Hinduism Today · [3] Patch · [8] Eater San Francisco · [2] American Kahani