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

TL;DR

• 🛕 Weston's South Asian community has two major temples nearby: South Florida Hindu Temple and Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida
• Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida hosts Gayatri Homam, Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam, Abhishekam to Shiva, and regular weekly events
• Navratri 2026 on 11 October brings the festival season to Weston's Indian community
• Durga Ashtami 2026 on 18 October and Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October are the season's mid-month observances
• Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November and Diwali 2026 on 8 November close the year's main festival run

Weston, in Broward County, sits at the edge of one of South Florida's most active Desi communities. The suburb's Hindu families have access to two full-service temples within a short drive, and the event calendar these temples maintain through the October–November period is among the most active in the region. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida

Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida at 5661 Dykes Rd, Southwest Ranches, FL 33331 runs one of the most active temple event calendars in Broward County. The temple's shivavishnu.org website lists events by the week, and the September–October schedule alone includes Gayatri Homam on 27 September, Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam on the same date, Abhishekam to Shiva on 28 September, Abhishekam to Ganesha on 29 September, and Hanuman Chalisa on 29 September. Contact is (954) 689-0471.

The density of programming — multiple events per day during active periods — reflects a temple that is genuinely operational rather than a weekend-only facility. For Weston families who want to participate in Navratri 2026, Durga Ashtami 2026, and the Diwali 2026 cluster, Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida is the primary resource. Event registration and updates are posted to shivavishnu.org well ahead of the festival dates.

The range of Abhishekam programmes — to Shiva, Ganesha, Subramania — means the temple's schedule covers different deity traditions within the same facility, which is practical for families with varied observance backgrounds. Gayatri Homam and Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam indicate the temple's comfort with Shakta and Vaishnava programmes alongside its Shaiva foundation.

South Florida Hindu Temple

South Florida Hindu Temple at 13010 W Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330 is the larger facility and serves the broader South Florida Hindu community in a multi-deity format. Contact is 954-252-8802 and sfht.org holds the programme schedule. For the Navratri 2026, Durga Ashtami 2026, and Diwali 2026 season, the South Florida Hindu Temple holds the larger community events — Garba nights, Diwali programme, and Ashtami puja — that draw from across Broward County.

The Southwest Ranches location puts both temples effectively adjacent for Weston residents, with South Florida Hindu Temple and Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida both on the western edge of Broward, accessible via Griffin Road and Dykes Road respectively.

October's Festival Calendar

Navratri 2026 on 11 October brings nine nights of Garba and Dandiya events to South Florida's Hindu community. Both Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida and South Florida Hindu Temple hold Navratri programming; the styles differ — the former tends toward the more devotional Garba and puja format while the latter's events lean toward the community Garba and Dandiya Raas nights that draw larger mixed crowds.

Durga Ashtami 2026 on 18 October is the eighth and most significant night of Navratri. Temple pujas on Ashtami evening are elaborate and long-form at both Weston-area temples. Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 on 20 October follows immediately, marking the festival's close with cultural programmes at temples and community organisations across Broward.

Karva Chauth 2026 on 29 October is observed by married women who fast from sunrise until moonrise. For Weston's South Asian community, the evening of Karva Chauth is a visible neighbourhood gathering — women in traditional attire coming together for the moonrise ritual — and several community organisations host coordinated gatherings.

Insider Tip 💡

The Abhishekam to Shiva at Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida on Pradosh Vrat dates — typically the 13th and 28th day of each lunar month — is a quieter and more accessible experience than the same puja on major festival days. Pradosh Vrat on 8 October and 23 October are both good windows for a first visit to the temple without the festival-peak crowd.

FAQ

Q: How often does Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida hold events? A: Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida at 5661 Dykes Rd operates a nearly daily schedule of pujas and events — Abhishekam to Shiva, Abhishekam to Ganesha, Gayatri Homam, Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam, Hanuman Chalisa are all regular weekly or fortnightly events. The full calendar is at shivavishnu.org.

Q: Where is South Florida Hindu Temple in relation to Weston? A: South Florida Hindu Temple is at 13010 W Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330, approximately a 15-minute drive from central Weston. Contact 954-252-8802 for directions and event schedule.

Q: When is Diwali 2026 in the Weston area? A: Diwali 2026 is on 8 November. Dhanteras 2026 on 6 November opens the Diwali shopping period. Both South Florida Hindu Temple and Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida hold Diwali programmes — confirm dates and registration requirements ahead of November.

Q: What is Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam? A: Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam is the recitation of the thousand names of the goddess Lalitha Tripura Sundari — a practice common in South Indian Hindu tradition, particularly on Fridays and special festival days. Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida includes it in its regular calendar alongside other puja programmes.

Bottom Line

Weston's South Asian community has access to two well-maintained temples — South Florida Hindu Temple on Griffin Road and Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida on Dykes Road — that between them provide coverage for the full October–November festival calendar. From the weekly Abhishekam and Gayatri Homam programmes at Shiva Vishnu Temple to the larger Navratri 2026 and Diwali 2026 community events at South Florida Hindu Temple, the infrastructure is substantial for a community of this size. Check shivavishnu.org and sfht.org for the current event registration and timings ahead of Navratri 2026.