Ayodhya temples to offer online Darshan this Diwali through Metaverse Technology

A Mumbai-based company is working on this project, and within six months, 20 temples in Ayodhya will be accessible online, allowing devotees from around the world to perform Darshan from the comfort of their homes.

In an exclusive interview with ANI on the sidelines of the 5th edition of Global Fintech Fest, company's MD and CEO Rajesh Mirjankar said, "The Ayodhya Development Authority has issued an RFP to provide online Darshan for 20 temples in Ayodhya. The aim is to offer virtual Darshan and recreate some of the historic aspects of Ayodhya for devotees. We are working on scanning the temple assets in Ayodhya to provide an online view as soon as possible."

"Our goal is to launch the online Darshan of some temples before Diwali, by October 31. We plan to complete the project within six months to ensure that online Darshan of 20 temples is available to the public through web-based platforms and mobile apps," said Mirjankar.

The company has also received an order from the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to provide an online Darshan facility for Mata Vaishno Devi devotees. The company has already installed five VR headset kiosks at Niharika Bhawan, Serli Helipad, Adhkuwari, Durga Bhawan, and Parvati Bhawan, where devotees can experience virtual Darshan.

"About a year ago, we began working on the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple project after winning the RFP for providing the view on the Metaverse. We created 3D virtual assets of the Vaishno Devi Mandir, offering a three-dimensional Darshan through VR headsets. Seeing the huge demand, the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has now asked us to extend the online Darshan facility. We are currently integrating the ability for devotees to request virtual Darshan via the Shrine Board's website, accessible from anywhere in the world for a nominal fee. This project will be completed in a couple of months. So far, lakhs of devotees have performed Darshan through the VR headsets installed at the five locations," Mirjankar said. (ANI)

The company is also offering Darshan of the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in Varanasi through VR headsets. "We launched the 'Divya Anubhav' counter at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, where devotees can have a complete Darshan experience using VR headsets. In a temple, it's often challenging to get a close-up view of the Jyotirlinga, but with Divya Anubhav Darshan, devotees can see it from a much closer distance using VR technology, enhancing their overall experience," Mirjankar further said.

"We believe this will revolutionize the way religious tourism is perceived. Many people who cannot visit the temple in person can now participate in online Darshan, adding immense value to the way religious experiences are conducted globally," he added.

Rajesh Cherayil, Global COO, Akashaverse said, "Rendering Holy Shrines and Virtual Pilgrimages on the Metaverse breaks traditional access transcending geographic, physical and economic limitations. It enables universal and convenient access to the teeming population of this great nation with growing aspirations to engage in immersive experiences." (ANI)