Religion and faith have been deeply connected to life in India. Since ancient times, people have been making their devotion a part of their lives through worship, donations and rituals. But in today’s digital age, all this has been integrated into smartphones and apps. Do virtual worship sitting at home, give online donations, visit temples with live streaming – all this has now become commonplace. Digital devotion began in the 2010s, when smartphones and the internet increased in number in India. For the first time in 2011, a young investment banker in Bangalore, Ravi Ganna, searched on Google how to conduct worship sitting at home? This led him to start a company called e-Puja, which used to conduct worship in temples for $ 15. e-Puja started this service through an online platform, where people could book through an app or website.
After this, digital devotion gained momentum. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 accelerated this. As people were confined to their homes, temples were closed, online worship and live streaming became the norm. According to a report, India’s religious economy was worth $65 billion in 2024, which will grow to $135 billion by 2033. In this, digital worship services have grown by 703 percent. Startups have made this an opportunity for profit.
One big name is the ‘Sri Mandir’ app, which was launched in 2020 by a company called Apsfor Bharat. Its CEO Prashant Sachan said that their aim is to connect faith with technology. More than 4 crore people have downloaded the app and 1.2 million users have given online prayers and offerings. It is connected to more than 50 temples in Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya. People can watch video pujas from home, donate and have prasad delivered. Pooja materials, Ganga water and travel packages can also be booked on the app.
Other startups have also emerged. Such as ‘Vama’ and ‘Devdham’ which conduct virtual yagnas and rituals for the peace of ancestors. Apps like ‘Astrotalk’ connect astrologers online. All these are a boon for Indians living abroad. Some NRIs think it saves time and money.
But this technological change has also brought controversy. Many people say that virtual pujas do not have the same sacredness that is found in temples. There is no direct talk with the priest or a Ganga bath. But temples have also adopted it. Akshay Bharti, the mahant of Mangalnath temple in Ujjain, says that earlier there were 20-30 pujas, now with the app there are more than 300. The ‘Ik Ishwar’ app has been launched in the Dakshin Kali Temple in Haridwar, which shows Aarti while sitting at home.
Digital devotion in Sikhism: An attempt to tie Gurbani into apps
In Sikhism, devotion means direct connection with God, without any thought or rituals. Guru Nanak Dev Ji awakened the society with philosophy, where Nitnem, Simran, Sangat and Langar are the main ones. But today, many times these have become rituals, like the dera members are making Akhand Path a business and increasing their income. It is said in the Guru Granth Sahib: “Hathu Ahankar Karei Nahi Paavai || Paath Padai Le Lok Sunavai || – Nothing is gained by reading without understanding.
It is also true that digital technology has paved the way for the propagation and development of Sikhism. It started in the 2000s, when efforts were made to digitize Gurbani. In 2011, Sikh Net launched Gurbani apps, such as Nitnem Gutka, Kirtan. These apps are for reading, listening to and understanding the meaning of the verses in Gurmukhi. For example, the ‘Sikh World’ app has live Kirtan streamed from the Golden Temple, Nitnem Baniyas, Hukamnama and Gurdwara location finder. It has been downloaded lakhs of times.
There are also other apps like ‘Sundar Gutka’, which provides the entire Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi, Hindi and English. ‘Sikhi Vibes’ features Guru Sakhis, Baby Names and Gurdwara Directory. These apps are a boon for Sikhs living abroad, who can do their daily rituals sitting at home. The SGPC has created a digital platform where e-tenders, bookings and religious services are online. Expatriate Sikhs can book rooms in modern inns. They can listen to online kirtans from the Darbar Sahib. Organizations like ‘Sikhs for Technology’ provide technical education in developing areas.
Digital devotion has made the faith global, but there is also an issue of trust. Many people fear that money will be looted through apps or rituals will be reduced. But it is connecting the new generation, which connects online in busy life. This is also happening in Sikhism, but emphasis should be placed on real knowledge. In the future, virtual gurdwaras and live kirtans will increase with AI. These are adapting the Indian faith to the global era.
