Book a Puja at an India Temple — from Anywhere in the World
A guide to booking Hindu pujas at India temples from abroad — mandatory video proof on your booking page, checkout billed in INR, and a numbered receipt for every donation. Prasad delivery is an optional add-on.
Why NRIs choose Darshya
Distance from India should not mean distance from dharma. Every booking is anchored on verifiable proof.
Video proof mandatory
Every puja delivers a video, and pandit payout is gated on upload.
Aadhaar KYC before payout
A payout gate, not a credential check — no reference checks, no trust score.
Billed in INR
Shown in USD, billed in INR. The exact rupee amount is shown upfront and we add no FX fee of our own. Pay with UPI, an Indian card or net banking; cards issued outside India are not accepted at the moment.
Free cancellation 48h+ before
75% refund 24-48h before. Inside that window the slot is locked.
Numbered donation receipts
Proof of payment by email — not a tax-exemption certificate.
Book from anywhere
Slot times are in India Standard Time, the time at the temple, so you always know when the puja happens.
How booking a puja from abroad works
Six steps, fully online.
- 1
Choose your puja
Browse 10 rituals by occasion, deity or temple. Each listing shows what's included, duration, lineage of pandit and what you'll receive (video, photos, prasad).
- 2
Enter sankalp details
Your name, gotra, date of birth, beneficiary (if booking for parents), and any specific prayer intention. This is what the pandit recites at the start of the puja.
- 3
Pay by card, billed in INR
Pay through Razorpay, billed in INR, with UPI, an Indian card or net banking. Cards issued outside India and PayPal are coming soon. Once payment succeeds, your booking page shows the reference number BS-YYYYMMDD-XXXXX.
- 4
A pandit is assigned
Your booking page always shows its status, including when a pandit accepts. Slot times are India Standard Time (IST), the time at the temple.
- 5
Puja happens at the temple
On the scheduled date, the pandit performs the ritual at the temple. The ceremony is recorded for your video proof.
- 6
Video proof + prasad
We aim to put your video proof on your booking page within 24-48 hours of the ceremony. Prasad delivery is optional and no delivery date is promised. Any donation you added gets a numbered receipt.
Pujas you can book from abroad
NRI pricing is 2.5 times the domestic price, plus a flat platform fee. Dollar figures are a display conversion for reference: the order is charged in rupees.
Top India temples for NRI bookings
Some of the temples listed on Darshya. Each temple page shows its pujas and slots.
Gift a puja to your parents in India
Send a Satyanarayan Katha for their anniversary, a Rudrabhishek on Shivratri, or a birthday puja for a sibling. Enter their name and gotra when you book; the video proof is on your booking page.
NRI puja booking — frequently asked
Common questions from devotees abroad.
Can I book a puja from outside India?
Yes. You can book puja listings from abroad. Billing is in Indian Rupees through Razorpay, so you pay with UPI, an Indian card or net banking. Cards issued outside India and PayPal are coming soon. Your booking page always shows the current status of your booking.
Will I receive video proof of my puja?
Video proof is mandatory on every booking. The assigned pandit uploads a video of the ritual. We aim to have it on your booking page within 24-48 hours of completion; if nothing has arrived 72 hours after your slot, write in and a person reviews it.
How does pricing work from abroad?
NRI pricing is 2.5 times the domestic price of the same puja. The flat platform fee (₹51) and the optional prasad-delivery fee (₹150) are the same for everyone and are not multiplied. We show the amount in US dollars for convenience, but the order is created and charged in Indian Rupees through Razorpay: the booking screen shows the exact rupee amount next to the dollar figure, and you pay with UPI, an Indian card or net banking. Cards issued outside India and PayPal are coming soon. You can switch the page back to rupees at any time.
Are the pandits verified?
Only in one specific sense, so here is exactly how far it goes. A pandit is paid only once Aadhaar-based KYC is on file, which is a payout gate rather than a public credential check — we do not yet run independent credential verification or temple reference checks, and we do not publish a per-pandit trust score. What every booking does carry is mandatory video proof of the ceremony.
Can my parents in India also benefit?
Yes. You can book a puja for any beneficiary in India. Just enter their name, gotra and date of birth at checkout. The pandit will mention them in the sankalp. Prasad delivery is an optional flat ₹150 add-on to whichever address you enter.
Can I claim a tax deduction on the donation?
Not today. You receive a numbered receipt (DR-YYYYMMDD-XXXX), but it is proof of payment rather than a tax-exemption certificate: it carries no donee registration number and no donee PAN, so nothing can be claimed against it under Indian income-tax law. We will update this answer the day that registration is issued.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel 48h or more before your puja for a full refund, or 24-48h before for 75%. Cancellation is not possible within 24 hours of the scheduled time. Refunds reach your account in 5-7 business days. Once a refund is issued it goes back to the method you paid with. UPI, wallets, Indian cards and net banking: 5-7 business days. International cards: up to 14 business days (timing set by your card issuer, not by Darshya).
How long does the full process take?
Pandit assignment: your booking page shows when a pandit accepts the booking. Video proof: we aim for 24-48 hours after the ceremony. We do not promise a prasad delivery date.
Can I watch the puja live?
Not on a booking. Every puja delivers recorded video proof of the ceremony. Free live darshan streams from select temples are on the Live Darshan page, separate from your booking.
Can prasad be sent to an address abroad?
No. Prasad is delivered within India only, so the booking screen takes an Indian address (with a 6-digit pincode) when you choose prasad delivery. You can still book any puja from anywhere in the world without prasad; the ceremony and its video proof do not depend on a delivery address. Store orders are also delivered within India only.
Ready to book your first puja?
Pick from 10 pujas at 20 listed temples. Video proof is included with every booking.