當印度最近結束的瑪哈庫姆（Mahakumbh）被認為是一個奇怪的景點，這是一個印度教會眾，每144年一次發生一次。

每天，一個男人在Sangam上下降了 - 甘加河，Yamuna和Sarasvati的三重融合，並提供了幾張護照尺寸的照片，上面提供“ Digital Snan”，象徵著數字花蜜浴。

Strange sights were seen as India recently concluded Maha Kumbh, a Hindu congregation that occurs once every 144 years. Every day, a man took dips at Sangam — the triple confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati — with several passport-sized photographs offering “Digital Snan,” symbolizing digital nectar baths. A nine-acre camp offered people a glimpse of the Hindu religion since the beginning of time. Several families received a 360-degree live virtual Maha Kumbh tour with a VR box and packaged pure Sangam water at their homes.

當印度最近結束的瑪哈·庫姆（Maha Kumbh）被認為是一個奇怪的景點，這是一個印度教會眾，每144年一次發生一次。每天，一個男人在Sangam上下降了 - 甘加河，Yamuna和Sarasvati的三重融合，並提供了幾張護照尺寸的照片，上面提供“ Digital Snan”，象徵著數字花蜜浴。從一開始，一個佔地9英畝的營地為人們提供了印度教的一瞥。幾個家庭接受了360度的現場虛擬Maha Kumbh巡迴演出，並在他們的家中打包了VR盒子，並在他們的家中打包了純Sangam Water。

These are some of the sights that were seen for the first time in Maha Kumbh’s known history. But all of it brings us to a fascinating question: Does the fusion of tech and tradition help us peek into India’s future of the metaverse? Indeed.

這些是在Maha Kumbh的已知歷史中首次看到的一些景點。但是，所有這些都帶給了我們一個有趣的問題：技術和傳統的融合是否有助於我們窺視印度的元代表未來？的確。

India’s approach to technology has always been unique. The country has previously leapfrogged many traditional technology adoption cycles. For example, it moved directly to mobile-first digital experiences without many households ever seeing a landline. As immersive technologies gain traction, the country shows signs of its distinctive adoption pattern.

印度的技術方法一直是獨一無二的。該國此前曾跨過許多傳統的技術採用周期。例如，它直接轉移到了移動優先的數字體驗，沒有許多家庭看到座機。隨著沉浸式技術的吸引力，該國表現出其獨特的採用模式的跡象。

Over the past few years, digitization of religious experiences has surged in India. The VR Devotee app, launched in 2016, streamed rituals and festivals from over 150 temples, enabling devotees to participate virtually. During COVID-19, the platform saw a remarkable 40% jump in user engagement.

在過去的幾年中，宗教經驗的數字化在印度激增。 VR Devotee應用程序於2016年推出，從150多個寺廟中播放了儀式和節日，使奉獻者能夠實際上參與。在Covid-19期間，該平台的用戶參與度增加了40％。

Recognizing this potential, the Indian government launched “Temple 360” in 2022 — a web portal providing virtual darshan (viewing of deities) from significant pilgrimage sites. When the famous Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra was held without public attendance for the first time in 2020, millions watched live. The same holds for nearly all pilgrimages in India.

印度政府意識到這一潛力，於2022年推出了“ Temple 360​​”，這是一個網站，該網站從重要的朝聖地提供了虛擬的Darshan（觀看神靈）。當著名的Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra在2020年第一次沒有參加公眾出席的情況下舉行時，數以百萬計的現場直播。印度幾乎所有朝聖之旅都相同。

What’s particularly striking about Maha Kumbh?

Maha Kumbh特別驚人？

Immersive technologies were being used at one of Hinduism’s most sacred gatherings, which saw over 663 million people make pilgrimages. If deep spiritual traditions can incorporate digital experiences, it signals a profound cultural readiness for adoption.

沉浸式技術正在印度教最神聖的聚會之一中使用，有超過6.63億人進行朝聖。如果深厚的精神傳統可以融合數字體驗，它標誌著採用的深刻文化準備就緒。

Under the Digital India initiative, AR/VR is explicitly identified as an emerging technology alongside AI, blockchain and 5G networks. And this isn’t mere lip service.

根據數字印度計劃，AR/VR與AI，區塊鍊和5G網絡一起明確確定為新興技術。這不是唇部服務。

The government has backed its words with concrete actions, establishing Centers of Excellence like VARCoE at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and launching initiatives such as IMAGE to incubate extended reality (XR) startups. In 2022, the MeitY Startup Hub partnered with Meta to launch the XR Startup Program, extending grants of 20 lakh Indian rupees (~$23,000) to 16 startups.

政府以具體的行動來支持其言語，並在印度理工學院布巴內斯瓦爾（Bhubaneswar）建立了諸如瓦爾科（Varcoe）之類的卓越中心，並啟動了諸如圖像之類的計劃，以孵化擴展現實（XR）初創企業。 2022年，Meity創業中心與Meta合作啟動了XR啟動計劃，將200萬印度盧比（約23,000美元）的贈款擴大到16個創業公司。

Also Read: Indian town adopts Avalanche blockchain for tamper-proof land records

另請閱讀：印度小鎮採用雪崩區塊鏈，用於防篡改土地記錄

The Uttar Pradesh government recently launched a 3D VR experience center in Ayodhya. Multiple Hindu religious places, including Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan, have already extended such immersive experiences.

北方邦政府最近在阿約提亞（Ayodhya）開設了一個3D VR體驗中心。包括Kashi Vishwanath Dham和Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan在內的多個印度教宗教場所已經擴展了這種沉浸式經驗。

This deliberate strategy can serve as a catalyst in India’s XR adoption, tapping into the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

這種故意的策略可以作為印度採用XR採用的催化劑，利用該國豐富的文化遺產。

Perhaps the most telling sign of India’s metaverse readiness comes from its corporate landscape. Reliance is leading the charge, headed by Asia’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani. In a landmark development, Jio Platforms recently partnered with Polygon Labs to integrate Web3 and blockchain capabilities into its existing digital ecosystem.

也許印度元元準備的最有說服力的跡象來自其公司景觀。 Reliance領導著亞洲最富有的人Mukesh Ambani領導的指控。在一個具有里程碑式的Platforms中，Jio平台最近與Polygon Labs合作，將Web3和區塊鏈功能集成到其現有的數字生態系統中。

The partnership is no small feat. It potentially brings Web3 functionality to Jio’s vast user base of over 482 million customers. Jio had previously demonstrated its commitment to immersive technologies by unveiling “Jio Glass,” an affordable mixed-reality device designed for the Indian market. Reliance’s acquisition of Tesseract in 2019 and recent discussions with Meta highlight its long-term bet on immersive futures.

合作夥伴關係並不是一件小事。它有可能將Web3功能帶給Jio的龐大用戶群，擁有超過4.82億客戶。 Jio此前曾通過揭開為印度市場設計的負擔得起的混合現實設備的“ Jio Glass”來證明其對沉浸式技術的承諾。 Reliance在2019年對Tesseract的收購以及與Meta的最新討論強調了其對沉浸式未來的長期押注。

The country’s largest telecom provider is strategically investing in metaverse-enabling technologies. This speaks volumes about the future of digital experiences in the country.

該國最大的電信提供商正在戰略性地投資於元化的技術。這說明了該國數字體驗的未來。

This year, after announcing its partnership with Polygon, Jio also launched its mystery JioCoin, a significant development for the Indian Web3 community. Meanwhile, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation also issued non-fungible (NFT) train tickets on the Polygon blockchain to passengers traveling to the Maha Kumbh festival.

今年，Jio在宣布與Polygon的合作夥伴關係後，還推出了其神秘的Jiocoin，這是印度Web3社區的重大發展。同時，印度鐵路餐飲和旅遊公司還向前往Maha Kumbh音樂節的乘客發行了多邊形區塊鏈上的不可殺傷（NFT）火車票。

These initiatives tapped Polygon specifically for its faster throughput and low gas fees — practical considerations that signal maturity in blockchain implementation in India.

這些舉措專門針對其更快的吞吐量和低汽油費來利用多邊形，這是在印度的區塊鏈實施中表明成熟度的實際考慮。

Not everyone is convinced that digitizing sacred experiences represents progress. The “Digital Snan” service for 1,100 rupees in Sangam triggered significant backlash on social media. Critics viewed such services as commercializing spirituality and reducing sacred rituals to transactional experiences.

並非每個人都相信數字化神聖的經歷代表了進步。 Sangam中為1,100盧比提供的“數字SNAN”服務引起了社交媒體的重大強烈反對。批評家認為，將精神性商業化並將神聖儀式降低為交易經驗等服務。

Furthermore, it’s been over eight years since Pokémon Go took the world by storm, demonstrating AR’s potential to create cultural phenomena that transcend demographic boundaries. The world hasn’t seen

此外，自《神奇寶貝Go》（PokémonGo）席捲世界已經八年多了，這表明了AR創造超越人口界限的文化現象的潛力。世界還沒有看到