India has never treated faith or astrology as occasional rituals. Both are embedded in daily decisions – from marriage and career moves to housewarming ceremonies and election timings. What is changing is not the depth of belief, but its delivery mechanism.

India’s devotion – and its booming astrology economy – has gone digital, building a multi-billion-dollar industry in the process.

With 936 million internet subscribers as of December 2023, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and 951 religion-tech startups tracked by Tracxn, belief has found distribution at scale. Layered onto a religious tourism market projected to reach $59 billion by 2028, the broader spiritual economy – spanning temples, rituals, astrology and digital platforms – is emerging as one of India’s most unusual growth sectors. Showing that faith is not fading; it is scaling.

The Temple and the App

India is home to nearly two million temples. Pilgrimage routes remain crowded. Religious tourism is expected to generate 140 million jobs by 2030. Offline devotion is not in decline.

So why are apps thriving?

The answer lies not in replacement, but extension.

Urban migration has pulled millions away from hometown temples. The Indian diaspora stretches across continents. Young professionals often lack the time or proximity to participate physically in rituals they grew up with.

Digital platforms position themselves as bridges – allowing devotees to book pujas remotely, receive prasad deliveries, livestream temple ceremonies or consult astrologers instantly.

The shift is less about abandoning tradition and more about adapting it to modern mobility.

The Rise of Religion-Tech

India now hosts 951 religion-tech startups, according to Tracxn data. Funding into the sector has risen from $88,500 in 2015 to more than $50 million in 2024. Venture capital firms such as Peak XV Partners, Matrix Partners and Blume Ventures have backed platforms operating at the intersection of belief and bandwidth.

Among the key players:

• AppsForBharat
• Astrotalk
• InstaAstro
• AstroYogi
• AstroSage

AppsForBharat, which runs the Sri Mandir app, raised $18 million in Series B funding last year. The company says users made 2.7 million offerings through its platform in a single year, including participation from overseas Indians. Founder Prashant Sachan argues that many devotees visit key temples only once in several years, and digital platforms offer continuity in between. But the deeper story lies not in funding rounds – it lies in demand.

Astrology’s Commercial Breakout

If religion-tech is the umbrella, astrology apps are its most monetised vertical.

Astrotalk reported ₹651 crore in operating revenue in FY24, more than doubling from the previous year. Net profit rose to ₹94 crore. The platform has crossed 30 million downloads and reportedly handles 4.5 million paid consultations monthly. It claims to have over 15,000 astrologers and 3 crore registered users, and is reportedly eyeing an IPO by 2026.

Users pay per minute – anywhere between ₹10 and ₹200 – for consultations on careers, relationships, investments or health concerns.

On the surface, it is a scalable marketplace model. Beneath it, however, is a psychological undercurrent.

Why Are Young Indians Turning to Astrology?

Contrary to stereotypes, the primary users of astrology apps are not elderly traditionalists. They are often between 20 and 35 years old.

Surveys cited by industry players suggest more than half of Gen Z respondents have sought astrological guidance, largely around careers and relationships. Women account for a significant share of users on several platforms. Tier-2 cities such as Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad are driving engagement alongside metros.

This generation faces a volatile job market, shifting relationship norms and intense social comparison amplified by social media. Astrology, in this context, becomes less about destiny and more about direction. It offers a structure in an age of uncertainty.

The Pandemic Effect

The Covid-19 lockdowns accelerated this shift dramatically. Major platforms reported a 200 to 500 percent surge in consultations during the pandemic. Questions reflected anxiety: Will I keep my job? Will my family stay safe? When will life normalise?

Astrology functioned as emotional scaffolding during a period when traditional certainties collapsed.

Humans seek patterns when events feel random. Astrology provides interpretive comfort.

Faith as Emotional Insurance

At a business summit, astrologer and Vastu expert Jai Madaan described astrology as akin to a weather app. It does not control the weather, but it helps you prepare.If rain is forecast, you carry an umbrella. Her broader point resonates: in a society facing rapid change, belief often serves as psychological insurance.

When you are happy, you want reassurance it will last.
When you are anxious, you want to know when it will end.

Eighty percent of consultations, she noted, revolve around career and relationships. That statistic says as much about India’s youth as it does about astrology.

Trust, Skepticism and the Risk of Scale

Yet digitising belief introduces tension.

Can a ritual performed remotely carry the same meaning as one attended physically? Can a horoscope delivered via chat feel authentic? Does monetising consultation dilute sanctity?

Some users report meaningful experiences. Others describe skepticism or dissatisfaction. Refund systems, ratings and reviews attempt to create accountability within app ecosystems.

“Building trust and credibility in a digital format is crucial,” Milan Sharma of 35North Ventures has observed. Scaling belief requires quality control as the risk is reputational. Faith is fragile capital.

Technology Meets Tradition

Artificial intelligence is now entering the mix. Founders of platforms such as InstaAstro say generative AI and large language models are being deployed to assist astrologers in providing faster, more personalised responses.

Future possibilities include syncing astrological advice with calendars, financial planning tools or wellness routines. At first glance, the idea of machine learning enhancing ancient cosmic systems feels contradictory.

In India, it feels almost natural. From QR codes at temple donation counters to livestreamed aartis, tradition and technology have long coexisted.

Commercialisation or Democratization?

The rise of digital devotion forces a difficult question.

Is faith being commercialised – or democratised?

On one hand, pricing rituals and charging per-minute consultations can feel transactional. On the other, access has expanded dramatically. A young professional in Singapore or a student in Pune can consult a trusted astrologer instantly. Diaspora families can participate in temple ceremonies without boarding a flight.

Markets form where demand exists. Temple economies have always existed. The difference now is visibility and scale.

The Last Bit, A Mirror to Modern India

Ultimately, the religion-tech boom is less about apps and more about India itself. The country is young, urbanising, digitally connected and economically aspirational. Yet it remains deeply rooted in tradition.

The astrology app on a Gen Z professional’s phone is not a contradiction. It is coexistence. Belief has moved online not because it is weakening but because India has moved online. And in doing so, the country may be building the world’s largest belief-tech ecosystem – one where faith is at once sacred, searchable and scalable.