Privacy policy
This policy explains how Darshan Saathi ("we", "us") handles personal data when you use the Darshan Saathi app and the website darshansaathi.com (together, "Darshan Saathi"). It is written to meet India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 and its rules.
What we collect
Account details. Your name, and the email address and/or phone number you sign up with. If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name, email address and an account identifier from them; we never see your Google or Apple password. Optional profile details you add: photo, home state, date of birth, gender, preferred language.
What you do in Darshan Saathi. Temples you save, like or follow; your temple visits (check-ins), passport stamps, photos and memories; reviews you write; yatras you plan; reminders you set; support requests.
Bookings and payments. For a puja or seva booking: the devotee name, phone number, gotram, nakshatram and notes you give, the temple, date and number of people. For any payment: the amount, what it was for, its status, and the reference ids from the payment gateway. Card, UPI and bank details are entered on the payment gateway's own page or app (Razorpay, Cashfree or PhonePe) and are never seen or stored by us.
Location. Only when you allow it, to show nearby temples and to check that you are at a temple when you check in. We do not track your location in the background.
Device and usage information. App version, device type and operating system, language, a push-notification token, sign-in times, crash information, and which screens and features are used (through Google Analytics for Firebase, when switched on). This is used to keep Darshan Saathi working and to improve it, not to identify you.
Advertising. If Darshan Saathi shows ads, the ad network (Google AdMob or AppLovin) may use your device's advertising identifier to show and measure ads. You can reset it or opt out of personalised ads in your phone's settings. Premium plans remove ads.
Why we use it
- To run your account and sign you in.
- To provide the features you use: temple information, check-ins, your passport, photos, memories, reviews and reminders.
- To take bookings, pass the booking details to the temple that performs the puja or seva, and take payment for them.
- To send notifications you have asked for, such as booking updates and festival reminders.
- To answer support requests and keep Darshan Saathi safe, including preventing fraud and misuse.
- To understand how Darshan Saathi is used and improve it.
- To meet legal obligations, such as keeping payment records.
We rely on your consent, which you give by creating an account and using these features, and which you can withdraw at any time by deleting your account; and, for payment records, on our legal obligations.
Who we share it with
We do not sell personal data. We share it only as needed to provide Darshan Saathi:
- Temples, for your bookings: the booking details above, so they can perform the puja or seva and recognise you on the day.
- Payment gateways (Razorpay, Cashfree, PhonePe), to take payments.
- Service providers who host or run parts of Darshan Saathi for us: our hosting provider, DigitalOcean (photo storage), Google Firebase (push notifications and analytics), email delivery providers, and ad networks where ads are shown.
- Other devotees, only for what you choose to make public: your reviews (with your name) and photos you submit for a temple's public gallery.
- Authorities, when the law requires it.
Some providers store data outside India; they are bound to protect it.
How long we keep it
We keep your data while your account is open. When you delete your account, your profile, check-ins, photos, memories, reviews, saved temples, follows and devices are deleted within 30 days. Records of bookings and payments are kept, without being used for anything else, for as long as tax and accounting law requires (currently up to 8 years). Backups are overwritten within 90 days.
Your rights
You can see and correct your details in the app (Profile → Edit profile), download your passport, and delete your account at any time in the app (Profile → Delete account) or on the website. You may also ask us for a summary of the data we hold about you, to correct or erase it, or to nominate someone to act for you, by writing to support@darshansaathi.com.
Children
Darshan Saathi is meant for people aged 18 and over. Younger devotees should use it with a parent or guardian, who is responsible for their use. We do not knowingly collect data from children without a parent's or guardian's consent.
Security
Data is sent over encrypted connections, passwords are stored only as secure hashes, and access to personal data is limited to people who need it. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach affects you, we will tell you and the authorities as the law requires.
Grievance Officer
If you have a concern about your personal data, write to Pranay Reddy at support@darshansaathi.com. We acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days. If you are not satisfied, you may complain to the Data Protection Board of India.
Changes
We will post any changes here and update the date below; for significant changes we will also tell you in the app.
Last updated 1 October 2026