
SAMBALPUR: The Samaleswari temple is all set to embrace digital transformation with its onboarding on to mobile application ‘Faith 360’ to make services of the 16th century shrine more accessible to devotees.
Developed with the support of HDFC bank, the app is expected to go live by the end of this month. It will allow devotees, especially those living far from Sambalpur, to book prasad online, make donations, and access daily updates about temple rituals and schedules - all from the comfort of their homes.
Samaleswari temple will become the third shrine in Odisha after ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar and Jagannath temple in Koraput to be available on the Faith 360 platform.
In its initial phase, the app will offer online prasad booking and delivery, detailed information about temple timings and events. After completion of the second phase of the SAMALEI project, devotees will also be able to book rooms in the upcoming temple guesthouse and the kalyan mandap for religious or personal functions.
Additionally, devotees will be able to pre-book darshan slots, helping manage the daily rush and avoid the long waiting time. Photographs of the temple’s daily rituals will also be made available on the app.
President of Samaleswari Temple Trust Board Sanjay Babu said the footfall of devotees has significantly increased following the redevelopment of the shrine. Thousands of devotees and tourists visit the temple daily, and the demand for prasad often exceeds the availability.
“On some days, it runs out early as devotees fail to reach on time to book prasad. This app will ensure convenience, especially for devotees travelling long distances. They won’t return disappointed anymore,” he said.
Currently, the temple prepares prasad for around 200 to 250 people on a daily basis. The prasad is prepared in-house by the temple trust and offered at an affordable price of `100. No private organisation is involved in its preparation. The trust is also in the process of introducing takeaway of prasad which may also be managed through the app.
The app has already completed its trial phase. Once fully launched, QR codes will be displayed at various locations on the temple premises. By scanning the codes, visitors can download the app directly to their mobile devices.
The move comes in response to the feedback received from devotees, many of whom had expressed the need for a more organised and accessible system for temple offerings and information.