With much more than 400 million people turning up in a span of just 45 days, the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj for the year 2025, has sealed its credentials as the most colossal religious gathering on Earth. It has ushered in a flood of interest in the spiritual start-up industry, which has led to higher engagement and revenue for digital platforms providing online religious services.
Digital Platforms Bridging the Spiritual Gap
The start-ups are now extremely critical facilitators for devotees who are unable to attend in person, providing virtual access to the sacred rituals of the festival. Demand for online services like live-streamed aartis, virtual pujas, and personalized astrological consultations had never been so high, reported such platforms as Sri Mandir, AstroYogi, and Vama. Prashant Sachan, founder of Sri Mandir, underlined that the Maha Kumbha Mela constitutes a significant juncture for digital spiritual platforms where they can expect a 40-50% growth in app downloads and expectations of supporting an additional 300,000-500,000 new users during the festival. Partnerships with traditional religious institutions are paramount for establishing the credibility of these virtual rituals, such as the Vedashram Trust under the Sri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhada.
AstroYogi is also enjoying interest as users flock to view aartis being streamed live and receive more personalized astrological services. Meena Kapoor, founding director of AstroYogi, explains that since the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, there has been a huge rise in calls received for astrology, spiritual advice, and customized rituals; an indication that this is really speaking up as far as services in interest to spirituality.
Economic Implications of the Digital Shift
Startups have been able to maximize on the infusion of technology into age-old religious practices, thereby enhancing revenue opportunities. Those such as virtual Deep Daan (lamp offerings), Pitru Puja (ancestral rituals), and delivery of sanctified items such as Triveni Sangam Jal (holy water) have become a rage among devotees. This not only enhances the experience of service for users but also manifests itself in economic terms through the generation of jobs in tech development, customer support, and content creation.
Infrastructure and Government Support
Given the dual magnitude of spirituality and economy attached to the event of Maha Kumbh, the UP government has invested a lot in infrastructure that caters to both physical and digital participation. With an estimated budget of ₹6,382 crores, the event is expected to bring ₹25,000 crores into the state’s economy. Tech platforms, working with the government, have enabled seamless delivery of virtual services so that devotees across the world can take part in spiritual offerings of the festival.
A Sustainable Model for Future Gatherings
The success of digital platforms during the Maha Kumbh 2025 confirms a sustainable model for future religious gatherings. By leveraging technology, spiritual start-ups will be able to cater to the devotional needs of a global audience, unhindered by geographical boundaries. This practice will not only honor the sanctity of traditional practices but also mold itself according to modern lifestyles to maintain the relevance and accessibility of such events.
