Last updated — September 2, 2026.
Sakalam.org (“we,” “us,” “our”) operates the website Sakalam.org (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it when you use our Site and services, including temple/festival content browsing and ritual booking services (Puja, Homa, Archana, and related offerings) or any other service.
By using Sakalam.org, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
a) Account & Checkout Information
When you create an account or make a booking, we collect:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address (for checkout, invoicing, and where applicable, delivery of prasadam or physical materials)
b) Ritual-Specific Information
To ensure your Puja, Homa, Vrat, Abhishekam or Archana is performed correctly and per Vedic tradition, we collect ritual-specific details you provide at the time of booking, including:
- Gotra
- Sankalpa details (name, purpose of the ritual, and any specific intentions you wish to include)
- Names of family members or dear ones to be included in the sankalpa or archana
This information is used solely for the purpose of performing your requested ritual accurately, and is shared only with the officiating Pandit(s) assigned to your booking. It is not used for any unrelated purpose, and is not sold or rented to third parties.
c) Payment Information
All payments on Sakalam.org are processed through Razorpay, a PCI-DSS compliant, RBI-authorized payment gateway.
- We do not collect, store, or have access to your card number, CVV, UPI PIN, or net-banking credentials at any point.
- All payment data is entered directly into Razorpay’s secure payment interface and handled entirely by Razorpay in accordance with their own security standards and privacy policy.
- We only receive confirmation of payment status (success/failure) and a transaction reference to reconcile your booking — never your underlying payment credentials.
d) Pandit Application Data
If you apply to join Sakalam.org as an officiating Pandit, we collect information such as your name, contact details, address, qualifications, and experience, in order to verify and onboard you onto our platform.
We explicitly commit that your email address and phone number will never be displayed publicly on Sakalam.org, in listings, or in any public-facing part of the Site. This information is used only for internal verification, coordination of bookings, and communication between Sakalam.org and you.
e) Cookies & Analytics
Sakalam.org uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our Site (e.g., pages visited, time spent, general geographic region) so we can improve our content and services. Google Analytics data is aggregated and does not include your name, ritual details, or payment information.
You can disable cookies through your browser settings; however, some features of the Site may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Process and fulfil ritual bookings accurately
- Communicate with you regarding bookings, confirmations, and video delivery
- Process payments securely via Razorpay
- Verify and onboard Pandits
- Improve our Site and services through aggregated analytics
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
3. How We Protect Your Information
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information. Access to ritual-specific and personal data (such as Gotra and Sankalpa details) is restricted to personnel and Pandits directly involved in fulfilling your booking.
4. Data Retention
We retain booking records, including ritual-specific details, for a period of three (3) years from the date of the booking, for accounting, compliance, and service-quality purposes. After this period, personal data associated with the booking is deleted unless a longer retention period is required by applicable law.
Pandit application data is retained for as long as the Pandit’s profile remains active on our platform, and for one (1) year after deactivation.
You may request earlier deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal and operational obligations as described in Section 7 below.
5. Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only:
- With Razorpay, to process payments
- With the officiating Pandit(s), to the extent necessary to perform your requested ritual
- Where required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Sakalam.org, our users, or the public
6. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us at info@sakalam.org and we will promptly delete it.
7. Your Rights
You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and operational obligations (for example, records we are required to retain for financial or compliance purposes as described in Section 4).
8. Contact Us
For any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@sakalam.org.