Los Angeles Hindu Festival and Temple Guide

The Malibu Hindu Temple, the Chino Hills mandir and Artesia's Little India — Hindu festivals across Southern California.

Temples

The Malibu Hindu Temple in the Santa Monica Mountains, built from 1981, is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Southern California. Further east, the carved-stone BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills was completed in 2012. Many more temples serve families across the San Fernando Valley, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Festival season

Navratri — garba nights in community halls and event venues across the region.
Durga Puja — Bengali associations in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Diwali — temple celebrations and Annakut at the BAPS mandir.
Holi — spring colour events in parks and on campuses.

Shopping for puja items

Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, often called Little India, is the best-known place in Southern California for saris, jewellery, sweets and puja samagri.

See live listings: temples in Los Angeles.

Visiting the Malibu temple

The Malibu Hindu Temple sits on Las Virgenes Canyon Road in Calabasas. It has two levels — Lord Venkateswara upstairs and Lord Shiva below — and the canyon drive makes the visit feel like a small pilgrimage. Parking on the hillside fills quickly at weekends.

Visiting Chino Hills

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills is open to visitors of every faith. Its stone was carved in India and assembled in California, and its 20-acre campus includes a large lotus-shaped pond. Dress modestly and check the mandir's website for visiting hours.

Timings for Southern California

Festival dates and puja times follow local sunrise, so they can differ from India by a day. Check the Los Angeles panchang before planning a vrat.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Little India in Los Angeles?

Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, south-east of downtown Los Angeles, is known as Little India.

Can non-Hindus visit the temples?

Yes. The Malibu Hindu Temple and the BAPS mandir in Chino Hills welcome visitors of all faiths; dress modestly and remove shoes before entering.