Mahakumbh goes digital? Journalist-turned-entrepreneur tells us about his ‘digital snan startup’

Are you unable to attend this year's Maha Kumbh Mela?  Perhaps you are being put off by the concept of walking miles, the impossibility of finding a train ticket, or the image of navigating through a sea of millions.  Now you can take your holy dip without getting off the couch, so don't worry.

 The era of the "digital snan" is upon us.  A creative mind has combined traditional customs with contemporary convenience in the centre of Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers meet.  For a little Rs 1,100, journalist-turned-digital-dip-guru Deepak Goel is offering to immerse your photo in the Sangam for a symbolic cleaning. 

"Many temples already use digital darshan," Goel informs FE.com.  "I'm not the only person here doing this.  For the same service, some people here charge up to Rs 5,100.  This is how it operates:  Goel takes a picture of you over WhatsApp, prints it out, and throws it into the river on your behalf.  Even though it might not feel the same, you might find peace of mind—or at the very least, a wonderful story to tell. 

On February 19, Goel, a media expert and Asian College of Journalism journalism graduate, launched this innovative service. Only Indian nationals have joined so far, but with blessings on demand becoming so popular, it could not be long before the rest of the globe does as well. However, Goel declined to disclose how many requests he had already received.

 And does Rs 1,100 seem excessive?  Don't worry, there is a comparable service advertisement circulating online.  For barely Rs 500, a widely shared brochure promises to "cleanse your soul" and "shower you with divine blessings" using digital dip services.  The holy dip is therefore only a click away, regardless of whether your motivation is faith, enjoyment, or FOMO.  Salvation could be so...digital? Who knew?