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Technology Brings Ex-Pat Indians Closer to Prayer

Busy young Indian professionals, living out their country of birth and too busy to reach a temple during the Hindu festival of Dawali have now found an ingenious way of having their prayers heard. For a price ranging from $8 to $15, ex-patriot Indians can now log onto a religious website and buy prayers and blessings during the three-day festival of light. Millions of Indians living in the United States, Britain and other countries around the world are thus able to join in traditional offerings over the internet.

Religious portals offering these services report that before and during Dawali, traffic through their site is three to four times brisker than usual. These sites can put together several ?prayer packages?, ranging from live transmissions to temples in India to sending dried flowers blessed by a local priest. At the click of mouse, homesick worshipers can also purchase incense sticks, prayer figures and holy books. Mouse-clicking believers are now able to become closer to God thanks to technology.

Not everyone, however, is happy with this new form of worship. Priests who are called upon to bless religious artifacts that are destined for abroad do so reluctantly, feeling that there is no ?quick-fix? when it comes to worship and traditions. However, they take on the task because they fear that if these young devotees aren?t able to take part in Dawali festivities over the internet, they might not do so at all.