Search – Digital governance for temple services and online pilgrimage experience.- Andhra Pradesh has taken a significant step in improving access to temple services through its Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance platform. The digital initiative is helping devotees complete various temple-related activities from their smartphones, making religious visits more convenient while also contributing substantial revenue to temples across the state.

WhatsApp Platform Simplifies Temple Services

The Mana Mitra platform, developed to deliver public services through WhatsApp, has become an important digital gateway for devotees. With a simple greeting message on the application, users can access several temple services without visiting booking counters. The system allows devotees to reserve Darshan and Seva tickets, book tonsure services, make e-Hundi donations, and instantly download ticket confirmations in PDF format.

The initiative has significantly reduced the need for long queues at temple premises, offering a faster and smoother experience for visitors planning their pilgrimage.

Revenue Growth Reflects Rising Public Adoption

The growing popularity of the platform has also translated into impressive financial results for temples managed by the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department, excluding Tirumala. Since its introduction, the WhatsApp-based service has generated more than Rs 22.26 crore in revenue for 21 major temples.

Official figures show that nearly Rs 12.91 crore of this amount was collected within a single month, between May 11 and June 11. The sharp increase indicates that more devotees are choosing the digital platform as their preferred method for accessing temple services.

Digital Bookings Continue to Increase

According to government data, around 30 percent of all Darshan and Seva ticket reservations are now being made through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp service. The easy-to-use interface enables devotees to check ticket availability, complete bookings, and receive confirmations without requiring additional applications or complicated registration processes.

This digital approach has reduced waiting times and made pilgrimage planning easier, particularly for families, senior citizens, and visitors travelling from distant locations.

Dedicated Service Centres Improve Convenience

To strengthen on-ground support, authorities have established Mana Mitra Service Centres at selected temples. Devotees who complete bookings through the WhatsApp platform can use dedicated counters and separate queue lines, allowing quicker entry for Darshan and other temple services.

Officials believe that combining online booking with dedicated physical assistance ensures a more organised and efficient experience for visitors while reducing crowd management challenges at temple premises.

Technology Supports Citizen-Centric Governance

Government officials describe Mana Mitra as an example of how digital technology can improve public service delivery while making essential services more accessible. By integrating temple facilities into a familiar communication platform, the initiative has made spiritual journeys simpler and more convenient for people across Andhra Pradesh.

With awareness about the service continuing to grow, authorities expect a steady rise in the number of devotees using the platform in the coming months. The expanding adoption is expected to further strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s reputation for implementing citizen-focused digital governance solutions that combine technology with public convenience.