Nepali Temples, Pandits and Dashain Tika Services Near Me

Updated 27 August 2026 · Hamro App

For Dashain 2026, temple tika programs will mostly fall on or near Vijaya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October, with larger community programs on the weekends of 17–18 and 24–25 October. If you want a pandit to come to your home, contact them in September — priests serving a large community are booked through the whole festival period.

Finding a temple near you

Nepali families in the US worship at several kinds of temple, and the difference matters when you search.

Nepali-specific temples and cultural centres. Fewer in number, concentrated in the DC–Maryland–Virginia area, Texas, New York and New Jersey, California and Colorado. These observe Dashain in the Nepali way, with tika, jamara and the familiar order of days.
Broader Hindu temples. Far more numerous and present in most metros. Many have Nepali members and hold a Durga puja and often a tika program, though the observance may follow a different regional tradition — the festival is Dussehra or Navaratri across much of India, related but not identical.
Community halls and homes. In smaller cities, families often organise puja in a rented hall with a visiting priest. These are announced through community networks rather than publicly.

Try "Nepali temple near me", "Hindu temple near me", and your state's Nepali association name. Many temples have a stronger presence in community groups than on the open web.

Finding a pandit

Priests serving Nepali communities in the US are usually reached by referral rather than by search.

Ask at the temple. Temple priests often perform household puja, or will refer you.
Ask at a Nepali grocery store or restaurant — business cards on the noticeboard, and staff who know who people use.
Ask your state Nepali association.
Remote puja. Some families arrange puja by video with a priest in Nepal, particularly where no one is available locally. This has become common, though practice varies by family.

If you have recently moved, ask two or three families nearby who they use rather than booking the first name you find. Priests differ in tradition and in which regional practices they follow, and you want one whose observance matches your family's.

What to ask before booking

Availability on your date, and whether they travel to your home
Which tradition they follow — regional practice differs, so say how your family observes
What you provide — most will give you a list: abir, rice, ghee, wicks, supari, betel leaf, fruit, flowers, jamara
How long the puja takes, so you can plan around it
Dakshina — an offering rather than a fixed fee, and it is entirely normal to ask what is customary in your area
Language — whether mantras and explanation will be in Nepali, Sanskrit or English, which matters if children are taking part

Tika at a temple

Many temples hold an open tika program where elders or a priest give tika to anyone who comes. Queues are long on the day, so arriving early genuinely helps. Jamara is often provided but not always — ask, or bring your own. A small offering is customary rather than required.

Children are welcome, and for many families that is the main reason to go: it is where a child sees Dashain as something a whole community does, not just their household.

Temple schedules and priest availability for 2026 are set locally and announced close to the date. We cannot verify a specific temple's program from here, and any page listing confident times for your city has almost certainly not checked. Confirm directly with the temple or priest.

Hamro App helps people discover Nepali community resources and businesses near them. It does not provide religious services itself and is not a substitute for your own temple or priest. For the festival calendar, see our Dashain 2026 dates guide; for puja items, where to buy them near you.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a Nepali temple near me?

Search 'Nepali temple' and 'Hindu temple' together with your city, and ask your state Nepali association. In cities without a Nepali-specific temple, a broader Hindu temple usually holds Durga puja and often a tika program.

How do I find a Nepali pandit near me?

Referral is the normal route — ask at your temple, at a Nepali grocery store, or through your local Nepali association. Priests serving Nepali communities are rarely findable by search alone.

How much should I give as dakshina?

Dakshina is an offering, not a fixed price, and the customary amount varies by area and by the puja. It is entirely acceptable to ask what is usual locally.

Can I do Dashain puja at home without a priest?

Many families do, particularly for tika itself, where the elder of the household gives the blessing. For a formal puja, families usually prefer a priest.

Can a priest in Nepal do our puja over video?

Some families arrange this, and it has become fairly common where no priest is available locally. Whether it suits your family is a question for the priest you follow.

Is Dussehra the same as Dashain?

They are related festivals observed at the same time, but the traditions differ. A Hindu temple in the US may observe Navaratri and Dussehra in a regional Indian form rather than the Nepali Dashain form.

When are temple tika programs in 2026?

Vijaya Dashami is Wednesday 21 October 2026, so temple tika falls on or near that day, with larger community programs typically on the weekends of 17–18 and 24–25 October.