当印度最近结束的玛哈库姆（Mahakumbh）被认为是一个奇怪的景点，这是一个印度教会众，每144年一次发生一次。

每天，一个男人在Sangam上下降了 - 甘加河，Yamuna和Sarasvati的三重融合，并提供了几张护照尺寸的照片，上面提供“ Digital Snan”，象征着数字花蜜浴。

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.

当印度最近结束的玛哈·库姆（Maha Kumbh）被认为是一个奇怪的景点，这是一个印度教会众，每144年一次发生一次。每天，一个男人在Sangam上下降了 - 甘加河，Yamuna和Sarasvati的三重融合，并提供了几张护照尺寸的照片，上面提供“ Digital Snan”，象征着数字花蜜浴。从一开始，一个占地9英亩的营地为人们提供了印度教的一瞥。几个家庭接受了360度的现场虚拟Maha Kumbh巡回演出，并在他们的家中打包了VR盒子，并在他们的家中打包了纯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.

这些是在Maha Kumbh的已知历史中首次看到的一些景点。但是，所有这些都带给了我们一个有趣的问题：技术和传统的融合是否有助于我们窥视印度的元代表未来？的确。

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.

印度的技术方法一直是独一无二的。该国此前曾跨过许多传统的技术采用周期。例如，它直接转移到了移动优先的数字体验，没有许多家庭看到座机。随着沉浸式技术的吸引力，该国表现出其独特的采用模式的迹象。

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.

在过去的几年中，宗教经验的数字化在印度激增。 VR Devotee应用程序于2016年推出，从150多个寺庙中播放了仪式和节日，使奉献者能够实际上参与。在Covid-19期间，该平台的用户参与度增加了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.

印度政府意识到这一潜力，于2022年推出了“ Temple 360​​”，这是一个网站，该网站从重要的朝圣地提供了虚拟的Darshan（观看神灵）。当著名的Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra在2020年第一次没有参加公众出席的情况下举行时，数以百万计的现场直播。印度几乎所有朝圣之旅都相同。

What’s particularly striking about Maha Kumbh?

Maha Kumbh特别惊人？

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.

沉浸式技术正在印度教最神圣的聚会之一中使用，有超过6.63亿人进行朝圣。如果深厚的精神传统可以融合数字体验，它标志着采用的深刻文化准备就绪。

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.

根据数字印度计划，AR/VR与AI，区块链和5G网络一起明确确定为新兴技术。这不是唇部服务。

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.

政府以具体的行动来支持其言语，并在印度理工学院布巴内斯瓦尔（Bhubaneswar）建立了诸如瓦尔科（Varcoe）之类的卓越中心，并启动了诸如图像之类的计划，以孵化扩展现实（XR）初创企业。 2022年，Meity创业中心与Meta合作启动了XR启动计划，将200万印度卢比（约23,000美元）的赠款扩大到16个创业公司。

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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约提亚（Ayodhya）开设了一个3D VR体验中心。包括Kashi Vishwanath Dham和Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan在内的多个印度教宗教场所已经扩展了这种沉浸式经验。

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

这种故意的策略可以作为印度采用XR采用的催化剂，利用该国丰富的文化遗产。

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.

也许印度元元准备的最有说服力的迹象来自其公司景观。 Reliance领导着亚洲最富有的人Mukesh Ambani领导的指控。在一个具有里程碑式的Platforms中，Jio平台最近与Polygon Labs合作，将Web3和区块链功能集成到其现有的数字生态系统中。

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.

合作伙伴关系并不是一件小事。它有可能将Web3功能带给Jio的庞大用户群，拥有超过4.82亿客户。 Jio此前曾通过揭开为印度市场设计的负担得起的混合现实设备的“ Jio Glass”来证明其对沉浸式技术的承诺。 Reliance在2019年对Tesseract的收购以及与Meta的最新讨论强调了其对沉浸式未来的长期押注。

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.

该国最大的电信提供商正在战略性地投资于元化的技术。这说明了该国数字体验的未来。

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在宣布与Polygon的合作伙伴关系后，还推出了其神秘的Jiocoin，这是印度Web3社区的重大发展。同时，印度铁路餐饮和旅游公司还向前往Maha Kumbh音乐节的乘客发行了多边形区块链上的不可杀伤（NFT）火车票。

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

这些举措专门针对其更快的吞吐量和低汽油费来利用多边形，这是在印度的区块链实施中表明成熟度的实际考虑。

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.

并非每个人都相信数字化神圣的经历代表了进步。 Sangam中为1,100卢比提供的“数字SNAN”服务引起了社交媒体的重大强烈反对。批评家认为，将精神性商业化并将神圣仪式降低为交易经验等服务。

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《神奇宝贝Go》（PokémonGo）席卷世界已经八年多了，这表明了AR创造超越人口界限的文化现象的潜力。世界还没有看到