Vishnu Sahasranama
The thousand names of Vishnu, chanted together as a group. Books are provided and the pace is unhurried, so no prior practice is needed to join in.
This week at the temple
Confirmed poojas & sevas
These are the services already scheduled and confirmed by the temple office. Everyone is welcome to attend — there is no ticket, no booking and no charge to sit in on any of them.
Deepa Alankara Seva
Saturday, 25 July 2026 · the temple lit with rows of lamps for Baba's evening darshan
Sudarshana Homam
Sunday, 26 July 2026 · fire ritual invoking Vishnu's discus for protection and the clearing of obstacles
Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Vratam
Sunday, 26 July 2026 · the vratam and katha performed together, with prasadam for all who stay
Pradosham Shiva Abhishekam
Sunday, 26 July 2026 · at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, in the Pradosham hour before sunset
Navavarna Sri Chakra Archana
Tuesday, 28 July 2026 · the nine-enclosure archana to the Divine Mother at the Sri Chakra
Guru Poornima celebrations
Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · abhishekam, padapooja and Annadanam — the day devotees lay everything at the Guru's feet
Sponsorships for any of these sevas can be arranged through the temple office on 512-260-2721 or by writing to info@saiaustin.org. If you would like a priest to include your family's names and gotram in the sankalpam, please tell us a day ahead.
Every week
Thursdays & Sundays at the Sai temple
Thursday is Baba's day, and Sunday brings the families. Between them they hold the fullest schedule of the week. Nothing here needs to be booked and nothing needs to be known in advance — come as you are and sit where you like.
Sai Baba Abhishekam
The ceremonial bathing of Baba's murti with water, milk and honey, followed by alankaram and archana. Families may take part by arrangement with the priest.
Pallaki Seva
Baba's palanquin procession, carried slowly through the temple with lamps and singing. It is the reason we stay open later on Thursday evenings.
Bhajans
Devotional singing led by our volunteers. Singers and instrumentalists of every level are invited to take part, and children are especially encouraged.
Ganapati Abhishekam
Offered before all new beginnings — the removal of obstacles for the week ahead, and the first worship of any gathering at this temple.
Thursday Annadanam
A free hot meal served to everyone who comes, devotee or passer-by. Sponsoring a Thursday is one of the most direct sevas offered at this temple.
Also recurring at the Sri Venkateswara Temple
Across the campus, the Balaji shrine keeps its own cycle of observances through the month. Times follow the panchangam, so please call ahead or watch for the weekly email if you are coming especially for one of these.
- Pradosham Shiva Abhishekam — twice each month, at the Pradosham hour before sunset.
- Sankata Hara Chaturthi — the monthly Ganapati observance for the lifting of difficulties.
- Shani Puja — Saturday worship of Lord Shani, with Shani Triyodashi observed when it falls.
- Navagraha Abhishekam — abhishekam to the nine planetary deities for peace in the household.
Every day
The four aaratis
Whatever else is on the calendar, these four never move. Baba is woken, offered light, honoured at dusk and put to rest — the same four-fold rhythm kept at Shirdi is kept here, every single day of the year.
017:30 AM
Kakad Aarati
काकड़ आरती
The dawn aarati that wakes Baba. Followed by Kakad bhajans and the first darshan of the day.
0212:00 PM
Madhyan Aarati
मध्यान्ह आरती
The noon aarati, offered with naivedyam. Prasadam is distributed to everyone present.
036:30 PM
Dhoop Aarati
धूप आरती
Sunset aarati with incense and lamps — the fullest gathering of the day on Thursdays.
048:00 PM
Shej Aarati
शेज आरती
The night aarati that puts Baba to rest, closing the day in quiet before the temple shuts.
Temple hours today
7:00 AM – 8:30 PM
On festival days the aarati times hold, but the temple often stays open longer and the queue for darshan runs well past the posted hour.
Full weekly hours
The festival year
Twelve festivals we keep
Because the Hindu calendar is lunar, these festivals move against the Gregorian year — so we name the traditional month and the season they usually fall in rather than a date. The confirmed date for each one is announced closer to the day.
Sri Rama Navami
The birth of Lord Rama, and one of the great festivals of Shirdi itself. Kalyanam, abhishekam and continuous bhajans through the day.
Ugadi
The new year of the lunar calendar. The panchangam for the coming year is read aloud, and Ugadi pachadi is shared as prasadam.
Hanuman Jayanti
Sindoor alankaram for Anjaneya, recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa, and the offering of vada malas by devotees.
Guru Poornima
The day devotees offer everything at the Guru's feet. Special abhishekam, padapooja and an all-day Annadanam.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna's midnight birth, kept with a cradle, an evening of bhajans and children in costume filling the hall.
Vinayaka Chaturthi
Ganapati installed and worshipped with 21 leaves and modakam, then carried out in procession at the close of the observance.
Navaratri & Dussehra
Nine nights for the Divine Mother, each with its own alankaram, closing in the victory of Dussehra.
Vijayadashami — Baba's Punyatithi
The day Baba took mahasamadhi in 1918. The most solemn day of our year, kept with abhishekam, Palki and continuous naam smaran.
Deepavali
The temple lit end to end with lamps, Lakshmi Pooja in the evening, and sweets distributed to everyone who comes.
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The northern gate is opened at dawn and devotees pass through the Vaikunta Dwaram, with Vishnu Sahasranama through the morning.
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, kept awake in four rounds of abhishekam at the Sri Venkateswara Temple until the small hours.
Sri Venkateswara Brahmotsavam
The multi-day annual festival of Lord Balaji, with daily processions, homams and Annadanam. Pushkara Kumbhabhishekam is observed on its own cycle.
At a glance
Annual observances
The same year in one table — what the festival is called, the traditional month it belongs to, and what actually takes place on our campus when it comes around.
| Festival | Traditional month | What happens at this temple |
|---|---|---|
| Ugadi | Chaitra · March–April | Panchangam reading, special alankaram, bhajans and Annadanam |
| Sri Rama Navami | Chaitra · March–April | Abhishekam, kalyanam, day-long bhajans and Annadanam |
| Hanuman Jayanti | Chaitra · April | Sindoor alankaram, Hanuman Chalisa recitation, prasadam |
| Guru Poornima | Ashadha · June–July | Abhishekam, padapooja, bhajans and an all-day Annadanam |
| Sri Krishna Janmashtami | Shravana · August | Special alankaram, evening bhajans, children's programs, prasadam |
| Vinayaka Chaturthi | Bhadrapada · August–September | Ganapati abhishekam, archana with patri, procession and Annadanam |
| Navaratri & Dussehra | Ashwin · September–October | A different alankaram each night, kumkumarchana and bhajans |
| Vijayadashami — Baba's Punyatithi | Ashwin · October | Abhishekam, Pallaki Seva, continuous naam smaran and Annadanam |
| Deepavali | Kartika · October–November | Lamp lighting, Lakshmi Pooja, special alankaram and sweets |
| Vaikunta Ekadashi | Margashira · December–January | Vaikunta Dwaram darshan, Vishnu Sahasranama and Annadanam |
| Maha Shivaratri | Magha–Phalguna · February–March | Night-long abhishekam in four rounds at the Sri Venkateswara Temple |
| Shani Triyodashi | Recurs through the year | Shani Puja, taila abhishekam and archana |
| Annual Food Mela | Announced each year | A campus-wide food fair run by volunteers in support of temple programs |
| Pushkara Kumbhabhishekam & Brahmotsavam | Announced each year | Kumbhabhishekam, homam, daily processions and Annadanam |
Please note
How to be sure of a date
Nearly everything on this page except the four daily aaratis follows the lunar calendar, which means the Gregorian date shifts from one year to the next — sometimes by several weeks. For that reason we do not publish festival dates far in advance, and we would rather you had the confirmed timing than an approximate one.
Confirmed dates and start times are announced three ways: by email to everyone on the temple newsletter, on the temple's Facebook page, and on the noticeboard at the entrance. If a program is moved or a priest's schedule changes, those are the places it will be corrected first.
You can also simply call the office on 512-260-2721 or write to info@saiaustin.org, and someone will confirm the timing for the day you are planning to come.
Take part
A festival is built by the people who show up
Every celebration on this page rests on two things — devotees who sponsor the abhishekam, the homam and the Annadanam, and volunteers who cook, decorate, sing and clean up afterwards. Both are seva, and both are needed.
All donations are tax-deductible. The temple is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.