This app allows Hindus to virtually visit temples, make donations
Sri Mandir, a devotional app, is transforming the way Hindus practice their faith by enabling virtual temple visits and donations. The app features over 50 Hindu temples from India and allows users to participate in prayers, offer donations, and access religious content from their smartphones. This innovative platform caters to the spiritual needs of individuals, who are unable to physically visit these sacred sites due to distance or other constraints.
App's popularity and user experience
The Trivedi family, living in the US, discovered Sri Mandir while seeking a way to virtually worship at one of India's Jyotirlingas. A family member shared with TechCrunch that the app facilitates last-minute prayers and donations to their chosen temple, even from abroad. However, they noted that it is an ultra-premium app due to its high cost, with an average monthly expenditure outside India being $100 (around ₹8,400).
Inception of Sri Mandir and its global reach
Prashant Sachan, a serial entrepreneur from Uttar Pradesh, founded AppsForBharat, the parent company of Sri Mandir in November 2020. He observed that despite the digital revolution reaching rural India, religious practices remained predominantly offline. Since its launch in 2020, the app has been downloaded over 30 million times and extended its services to markets outside India in January this year.
Growth and user demographics
Sachan revealed to TechCrunch that since its global launch, the app has experienced a 25-30% monthly growth rate, attracting 500,000 registered users and 2.5 million installs outside India. The majority of its international user base is from the US, followed by Canada, the UK, and the Middle East. Sachan identified first and second-generation Indian-Americans as primary users, who seek to maintain their cultural connection despite not frequently visiting temples in India.
Revenue model and impact on priests
Sri Mandir generates its revenue from small-ticket transactions made by users for prayers and donations through the app. Currently, 25% of its total revenue comes from outside India. The platform also benefits temple priests by connecting them with more devotees, potentially increasing their income. A priest dedicating five to six hours weekly to the app can earn about 25-30% more than their regular income from the daily operations.
Priest's perspective on Sri Mandir and future plans
Manoj, a priest at Trimbakeshwar Shiva temple in Maharashtra, told TechCrunch that he receives 40-50 devotees weekly through the Sri Mandir app. He acknowledged that while the app lacks the divine vibe of physical temple visits, it does facilitate participation for those unable to attend in person. Looking ahead, AppsForBharat has secured $18 million in a Series B round led by Nandan Nilekani's Fundamentum Partnership, with plans to further expand Sri Mandir's reach.
