When COVID-19 lockdowns swept across India in 2020, they brought religious life to a halt. Temples were shuttered, large gatherings banned, and in-person rituals suspended – many for the first time in living memory. Millions of devotees were suddenly cut off from their usual spiritual routines, from daily temple visits and bhajans (community singing sessions) to life-cycle ceremonies like weddings and last rites. In the north Indian city of Kanpur, Mohit Tiwari, a 35-year-old priest, began receiving calls from anxious devotees seeking ways to continue their spiritual practices at home. Without access to priests or temple services, many turned to phone calls and video links for guidance. That’s when the idea for his startup struck.

“I realized we could do everything virtually whether it is spiritual mantras, offerings or rituals, based on an individual’s name and gotra [ancestral lineage]. There was no need for physical presence,” said Tiwari, who then founded OnlinePujaBooking.com, a “spiritual tech” company offering a variety of traditional Hindu rituals that can be booked online and performed virtually via live video.

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