Devotional apps saw a spike in investor interest last year thanks to two years of the pandemic. Now, they need to prove themselves.
Imagine you are inside a temple. Idols of several gods and goddesses are kept in small enclosed spaces, decorated with large garlands, the marigolds blooming in yellow and orange. You reach out to ring the bells while devotional chants echo in the background. You then light the lamp, offer some money and join your hands in prayer.
Imagine, instead, that you’re at home, with your smartphone. The icon is a yellow square, with a red-and-orange temple spire in the foreground and a bit of Hindi text below it. You tap it, the app launches and then a Hindu deity greets …
Sowmya is a former writer at The Morning Context, who covered consumer internet startups—from cloud kitchens and online pharmacies to e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands. She joined us from The Hindu, where she covered technology, including policy and corporations.
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