By Disha Gupta
The long tradition of collecting ‘vargani’ (donations) for Ganesh festivals by going door-to-door is now moving online. Many mandals in Pune and Mumbai have started using digital platforms to make fundraising easier. Earlier, volunteers had to visit homes with receipt books to collect money. Now, tech companies like 3ioNetra provide complete online solutions, making the process simple, paperless, and stress-free
“The process becomes completely paperless. Once the broadcast starts, the mandal can send donation links to registered devotees in their area, removing the need for door-to-door visits,” said Sumit from 3ioNetra.
The company first introduced this system eight years ago with the GSB Seva Mandal in Mumbai. Since then, major groups, including Girgaon cha Raja and several Pune mandals, have adopted the model.“It allows mandals to connect with devotees easily and ensures safe, clear transactions,” Sumit said.
One of the main challenges mandals face today is a shortage of volunteers and declining membership. Traditional methods required heavy manpower, physical receipt handling, and complicated accounting issues now resolved with digital tools.
With the new system, mandals can maintain a detailed database of devotees, issue virtual receipts, and send donation links directly. Devotees, in turn, receive instant digital receipts for their contributions.“When someone donates, the mandal admin gets an instant alert and can see all the payments. Many mandals are already using the platform.” said Sagar Narayani from 3ioNetra.
The biggest advantage, however, comes after the festival. Previously, mandals relied on chartered accountants for auditing and record-keeping, which was both expensive and time-consuming. “The most beneficial feature of the Vargani app is post-festival accounting. The software automatically generates complete datasheets, eliminating the need for external accountants,” Narayani explained.
This shift to digital donations shows how traditional festivals are adapting to modern times while preserving their cultural roots by making participation simpler for devotees and festival management more efficient for organisers.