Opinion: Shubham Kukrety, Co-Founder and CEO of Cooteit
India has recently seen a strange sight, as recently concluded by Mahakamba, a Hindu congregation that occurs once every 144 years.
Every day, men took dips in Sangam – triple confluences in the Ganga River, Yamuna and Sarasvati – I took some passport-sized photos that offer the “digital snan” that represents the digital nectar bus. The nine-acre camp gave us a glimpse into Hindu religion from the beginning of time. Several families took a 360-degree live virtual Mahakumbh tour with a VR box and packed their homes with pure sangham water.
These are some of the first sights seen in the known history of the Mahakamb. But it all brings us to the enchanting question: Does the fusion of technology and tradition help us to peer into the future of India’s metaverse? surely.
Religiously adopt technology
India’s approach to technology has always been unique. The country has previously leapt through many traditional technology adoption cycles. For example, many households have moved directly to the mobile-first digital experience without looking at landlines. As immersive technology gains traction, the country is showing signs of a distinctive adoption pattern.
Over the past few years, the digitalization of religious experience has skyrocketed in India. Launched in 2016, the VR Devotee app streams rituals and festivals from over 150 temples, making it virtually possible for devotees to participate. During Covid-19, the platform saw an astonishing 40% jump in user engagement.
Recognizing this possibility, the Indian government launched “Temple 360” in 2022. This is a web portal that offers virtual Darshan (viewing the gods) from important pilgrimage sites. When the famous Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra first took place in 2020 without public attendance, millions saw the show. The same applies to almost every pilgrimage in India.
What is particularly impressive about Mahakumbh?
Immersive techniques have been accepted into one of the most sacred gatherings of Hinduism. If deep spiritual traditions can incorporate digital experiences, it indicates a deep cultural preparation for adoption.
From skepticism to frontiertech
Under the Digital India initiative, AR/VR is explicitly identified as a new technology, along with AI, blockchain and 5G networks. And this isn’t just lip service.
The government supports the words with concrete actions, establishing a centre of excellence like Valkoh at Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and launching initiatives such as Image to insert augmented reality (XR) startups. In 2022, Meity Startup Hub partnered with META to launch the XR startup program, expanding grants worth Rs 200,000 (~$23,000) to 16 startups.
Recently: Indian Town adopts avalanche blockchain in its tamper-proof land records
The Uttar Pradesh government recently launched a 3D VR experience centre in Ayodaya. Several Hindu religious places, including Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan, have already expanded such an immersive experience.
This intentional strategy proves to be a catalyst for India’s adoption of XR, robbing the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Corporate giants embrace an immersive future
Perhaps the most important indication of Indian metaverse preparation comes from the circumstances of the company. Reliance leads the accusations led by Asia’s wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani. In landmark development, Jio Platforms recently partnered with Polygon Labs to integrate Web3 and blockchain capabilities into its existing digital ecosystem.
Partnerships are not a small feat. Potentially, it could bring Web3 capabilities to Jio’s vast user base of over 482 million customers. Jio previously demonstrated its commitment to immersive technology by unveiling the “Jio Glass,” an affordable mixed reality device designed for the Indian market. The 2019 acquisition of Reliance’s Tesseract and recent discussions with Meta highlight the long-term bet on an immersive future.
The nation’s largest telecom provider is strategically investing in Metaverse Evan Technology. It speaks to the amount of the country’s future of digital experiences.
This year, after announcing its partnership with Polygon, Jio also launched Mystery Jiocoin, a key development for the Indian Web3 community. Meanwhile, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has issued tickets for the Polygon Blockchain Essential (NFT) trains to passengers traveling to the Mahakam Festival.
These initiatives have tapped polygons in particular because of their throughput and low gas rates and low gas rates. This is a practical consideration to show the maturity of blockchain implementation in India.
Different perspectives and elusive mainstream moments
Not everyone is convinced that digitizing sacred experiences represents progress. Sangam’s Rs 1,100 “Digital Sunan” service has sparked a significant backlash on social media. Critics saw such services, such as commercialising spirituality and returning sacred rituals to trading experiences.
Furthermore, more than eight years have passed since Pokémon Go swept the world, it identifies the potential of AR to create cultural phenomena that transcend demographic boundaries. The world hasn’t seen its size since then.
The absence of this critical moment also raises questions about whether immersive technology achieves the ubiquitous nature that smartphones currently possess. Mall VR arcades attract curious teens for a one-off experience, but habitual use patterns have not been realized outside of a specific professional context.
Adoption green buds?
What distinguishes the Western model from the latent metaverse of India is that it is based on a cultural context that has deep meaning for millions. Silicon Valley envisions speculation of virtual offices and digital assets, but early Indian applications focus on democratizing experiences of deep cultural significance.
This culturally rooted approach could ultimately prove to be more sustainable. By addressing the needs of authentic human beings, such as connections with heritage, participation in community rituals, and access to experiences that are impossible due to distance and obstacles, India’s metaverse initiative may find elusive “whys” that have hindered mainstream adoption elsewhere.
Opinion: Shubham Kukrety, Co-Founder and CEO of Cooteit.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not intended to be considered legal or investment advice, and should not be done. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect or express Cointregraph’s views and opinions.
