Cultural Celebrations San Francisco

🎈🎈Language and Cultural Exchange Event! Berkeley! August 29th @ Cellarmaker

Welcome! Participate with us on Saturday for a cultural and language exchange. This event will be hosted by native Spanish speakers, however, all languages are welcome! Spend your Saturday afternoon connecting with international friends and fun interactions. Look for the table with the Red balloons 🎈

Performance: Waris Shah's Heer Celebration of an Epic poem

# Performance: Waris Shah's Heer Celebration of an Epic poem Aug 29th 2pm [https://sfpl.org/events](https://sfpl.org/events/2026/08/29/performance-waris-shahs-heer) Koret Auditorium [Main Library](https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library) Address 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Curated by Sonia Dhami, you are invited to experience South Asia’s celebrated Punjabi masterpiece - the story of Heer and her beloved Ranjha as they challenge family, class, and society. Originally composed in the 18th century by the poet Waris Shah, this adaptation is curated for a modern audience accompanied by live music, sung Punjabi verses, visual imagery and English narration, a unique weaving of poetry, music, art and story telling into a moving immersive experience for both familiar and new audiences. Vocalist : Ishmeet Narula Flute : Tejasvi Chakravarthy Mandolin : Harinder Singh Tabla : Gurdeep Singh Narrators : Sadia Azmat & Sonia Dhami

Ratha Yatra San Francisco 2026 • Festival of the Chariots

Sunday 23 August 2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Ratha Yatra San Francisco 2026 • Festival of the Chariots Free·with Bhakti SF [Book](https://bhaktisf.setmore.com/class-session/56a9a591-849a-4615-931c-a740766f19cb?step=user-details&products=44a25411-d88e-4055-98fc-f89cd14d0aa5&type=class&staff=ba725204-00a8-49fc-b5d4-67c0cd9726e1&slot=1787504400000&sessionId=56a9a591-849a-4615-931c-a740766f19cb&staffSelected=true&customer=) Ratha Yatra San Francisco 2026 • Festival of the Chariots Sunday, August 23, 2026 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco FREE Community Event Join us for one of San Francisco's most joyful spiritual celebrations as we gather for the 60th Annual Ratha Yatra – Festival of the Chariots. First introduced to the West in 1967 by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the San Francisco Ratha Yatra has become a beloved annual tradition of music, devotion, community, and celebration. At the heart of the festival is Lord Jagannātha, whose name means "Lord of the Universe." As the beautifully decorated chariots make their way through Golden Gate Park, thousands come together to sing kīrtan, dance, and experience the uplifting atmosphere of bhakti. The Vedic scriptures describe the special significance of this festival: "Simply by seeing the Lord on His chariot, one makes advancement on the path toward freedom from the cycle of birth and death." Whether you're discovering bhakti for the first time or returning to this cherished tradition, Ratha Yatra is an opportunity to connect through sacred sound, joyful celebration, and the timeless culture of devotion. ✨ Everyone is welcome. Admission is completely FREE. We hope you'll join the Bhakti SF community as we celebrate this beautiful day together. Bring your friends, your family, and an open heart—we'll see you at the chariots!

SF GoldenGate Park Rath Yatra Carnival & Lunch - Free

Saturday Night Latin Music Performance @ The Claremont in Berkeley 🎶

The La Gente SF Trio will fuse together rhythms, dances and cultural influences from all over Latino America and the Caribbean with a distinct San Francisco flavor, to create an infectious, high energy dance party! Featuring Rafa Sarria Bustamante on Lead Vocals & Guitar, Imanuel Junaedy on Keyboards & Vocals, and Patricio Angulo on Drums & Vocals, this powerhouse trio is not one to miss! https://claremontresortandclub.com/blog/events/jazz-nights-at-lobby-lounge/ Important Information about Seating: Since this event is free and open to the public, I Can NOT Guarantee that there will be available tables & seating for everyone attending this event. The event will be held at the Lobby Lounge part of the hotel, which is open 24 hours a day and it's open to anyone. I would really appreciate it, if people that come early to help me out by quickly claiming & holding any tables and seats that become open & available.

🚩 60th Annual Festival of the Chariots (Ratha Yatra) – San Francisco

Join thousands of people for one of the Bay Area’s most vibrant and joyful spiritual festivals! The Festival of the Chariots (Ratha Yatra) is a centuries-old celebration that originated in Jagannath Puri, India, and has been celebrated in San Francisco since 1967. The festival begins with a colorful parade through Golden Gate Park, where everyone is invited to help pull the beautifully decorated chariots of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra while chanting, singing, and dancing together. After the parade, enjoy a lively festival featuring devotional music, cultural performances, spiritual exhibits, yoga and meditation, family-friendly activities, and a delicious free vegetarian feast. Whether you’re exploring Eastern spirituality, looking for a fun cultural event, or simply want to spend a beautiful day outdoors with friends and family, this festival is for you. ✨ Festival Highlights * 🚩 Pull the magnificent chariots * 🎶 Live kirtan, music & dancing * 🎭 Cultural performances * 🪷 Spiritual exhibits & wisdom * 🍛 Free vegetarian feast * 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly activities * 🌍 Everyone is welcome—free admission! Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026 Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Come for the parade, stay for the festival, and experience a day of joy, community, and timeless spiritual culture. We look forward to celebrating with you! 🙏

Bollywood Nights at Salesforce Park - Free

**Bollywood Nights at Salesforce Park 🎉** Join Rang De Bollywood for some high-energy, outdoor, bollywood fun! This event is sure to leave you feeling loved, lighter, and delighted in excitement after every session. 🌈 Open to all ages, all levels, all backgrounds. ✨ Come casual or dressed, no pressure! 🎁 Free to attend – just bring your joy, your people, and your dancing feet! 🚶🏼‍♂️‍➡️Register for free so we can prepare at rang.eventbrite.com 🕔 5:30 – 7:00 PM – we’ll start with a beginner friendly dance lesson, followed by an open dance party! 💫 This is a repeating event, happening every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, May through October and you can register for as many dates as you like. Register now: [rang.eventbrite.com](http://rang.eventbrite.com) **About Rang De Bollywood** Hailing from the dream dance city of Mumbai and Amritsar, which is also home to Bollywood and Holy Vibes, our energetic, charismatic, and fun dance instructors-performers-entertainers, Manpreet (Certified in Indian Folk by India's Best and also an author) and Amit (percussionist, actor, dancer), have spread Indian dance music and moves across the length and breadth of India, USA, and Europe. Their recent performances were at National Center of Performing Arts in Mumbai and Herbst Theater in San Francisco. **Important Notes:** * Enter through transit center building and take the elevator to rooftop. We will be close to the elevator. * No solicitors allowed. * Classes might be video taped for marketing purposes. * All choreographies are Copyrighted and Original Works of Manpreet Komal/Rang De Bollywood. *"I recently had the pleasure of attending Manpreet’s Bollywood dance class, and I must say, it was an absolute blast! Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced dancer, this class caters to everyone's skill level. The highlight of the class was undoubtedly her teaching style. With a knack for breaking down complex steps into manageable chunks, even the most intricate routines felt attainable. The pacing was just right, ensuring that beginners didn't feel overwhelmed while keeping experts engaged. Highly recommend!" — Kavneet Bindra* **We can't wait to dance together, see you soon!**

OLD SKOOL | Punjabi x Hip-Hop x Reggaeton | DJ Prashant | San Francisco

**[🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟️](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-skool-punjabi-x-hip-hop-x-reggaeton-dj-prashant-san-francisco-tickets-1996981263717?aff=Meetup)** 𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐋 – 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐛𝐢 × 𝐇𝐢𝐩‑𝐇𝐨𝐩 × 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐚𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧 🎶🔥 – 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨 Kick off your weekend with an unforgettable cultural fusion at Paname SF, where Punjabi anthems, Hip‑Hop classics, and Reggaeton heat come together in one high‑energy night with DJ Prashant. Expect seamless genre‑blending, unexpected mashups, and a packed dance floor from the first drop to the final track. 🎵 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Punjabi favorites, Hip‑Hop throwbacks, Reggaeton, Latin club hits, and global dance anthems. Exclusive DJ Prashant mashups, including “Callaíta x Proper Patola,” “295 x Vente Pa’ Ca,” and the popular “Gasolina BHANGA” remix. A seamless cultural fusion designed for sing‑along moments, hands‑in‑the‑air drops, and non‑stop dancing. 🎧 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐃𝐉 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Paname SF’s LED screen brings DJ Prashant’s signature video DJing to life, adding dynamic visuals to the music and turning the entire venue into an immersive dance‑floor experience. The venue also offers free underground parking for guests. 🟡 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026 Time: 10:00 PM – 1:45 AM Music: All‑night set by DJ Prashant Location: Paname SF Address: 523 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States 📍 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 – 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐅 Paname SF is a stylish San Francisco nightclub and music venue in the Broadway and Columbus corridor, combining Parisian-inspired design, elevated nightlife energy, immersive sound, and a premium DJ setup. 📸 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞? Check out past Jai Ho! Dance Party photos: https://www.facebook.com/jaihodanceparty/photos_albums 👑 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐉 & 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 – 𝐃𝐉 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 We aren’t just bringing you a playlist—we’re bringing you an experience. DJ Prashant is an ex‑Intel engineer turned DJ, choreographer, singer, and event producer known for viral mashups, exclusive genre‑blending sets, and highly interactive dance energy. With 20M+ YouTube views and 50K+ subscribers, his mission is simple: bring cultures together and keep you dancing longer than you thought possible. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamprashant/ TEDx talk, music & dance videos: https://linktr.ee/dreamprashant 🟢 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Photos and videos captured during the event may be shared on social media and used to promote future events. You may receive an email with party photos and be added to the mailing list. Bollywood Dreams reserves the right to use event media without prior permission. The organizer is not liable for injury or theft during or after the event. No refunds or chargebacks. We maintain a safe and celebratory space for everyone, with zero tolerance for bigotry, racist remarks, fighting, inappropriate touching, or reckless behavior. If you see something, say something to venue staff or the event team. ❤️ 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 DJ Prashant is also available for weddings, private parties, and corporate events. Visit https://www.seattleindianweddings.com/ to create a memorable celebration of your own.

Noche de Español: Cultura, Juegos Y Buena Vibra. Aug 27th

Bienvenidos a Noche de Español! Un meet-up relajado y divertido donde la cultura, los juegos y la conversación en Español se combinan para crear una experiencia única.
Aquí no importa tu nivel de español, desde principiantes hasta hablantes nativos, todos son bienvenidos. Jugamos, practicamos, nos reímos y compartimos en un ambiente amigable, mientras descubrimos nuevas formas de conectar con la lengua y la cultura hispana. para que nos encuentres fácilmente busca la mesa con los globos a rojos 🎈 🎈

Thursday Kirtan and Supper

#### Thursday, 6:30–8:00 PM KIRTAN & SUPPER * Kirtan, or mantra meditation, is a call-and-response chanting practice, blending sacred mantras with music and dancing. It fosters ecstatic joy and deep collective participation. No experience needed. Suggested donation: $15. **Registration is not required.** Bhakti SF [https://bhaktisf.com/](https://bhaktisf.com/) 3250 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110

Traditional Full Moon & Sacred Tobacco Ceremony

Raja 50 – Ilaiyaraaja Live in Concert

## Raja 50 – Ilaiyaraaja Live in Concert Join us for an unforgettable evening with legendary composer and musician Ilaiyaraaja as he celebrates 50 remarkable years of music! Come experience beloved songs, timeless melodies, and the magic of Ilaiyaraaja performed live at Oakland Arena. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply love Indian music, this promises to be a special night—and even better enjoyed with fellow music lovers. 📅 Sunday, August 23, 2026 🚪 Doors open: 5:30 PM 🎶 Concert begins: 6:30 PM 📍 Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621 Please [purchase your ticket through the official Oakland Arena event page](https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/raja-50-ilaiyaraaja-live-in-concert). Your Meetup RSVP does not include admission, so remember to purchase your concert ticket separately. Let’s meet at the arena and enjoy a wonderful evening of music together!