Ganeshotsav 2018: Panditjis available on demand online

While the number of households and mandals that establish an idol swells each year, the number of pandits hasn't risen proportionately. As a result, pandits are often overbooked. They either end up making people wait, or wrap up the rituals in great haste.

And because some ingenious Mumbaikar saw a business opportunity here, there are today many online aggregator sites — mypanditji.com, allpanditji.com and wheresmypandit.com — to supply a steady line of pandits to the believers among us.

"Many of our customers are English-speaking professionals who want a reliable pandit who will show up on time," said Neelu Sharma, a partner at Navi Mumbai-based allpanditji.com, which has over 500 pandits registered with it across the country.

This online service started in 2015, and has roped in pandits from Nashik to cater to Mumbai's Ganpati pujas.

"Bookings for pandits start two months before and stay open till a day before the festival. At times, the demand is so high that we have to request the customer to adjust their preferred time slot," said Sharma.

Mypanditji.com, about a year old, boasts an international clientele. "At times overseas clients are fine with pandits doing the pooja over phone. These days, pooja through video calls is more in demand," said Rashmi Singh, CEO of the Indore-based aggregator.

Nevertheless, some people are left without a pandit. "I couldn't get a pandit at the time of my convenience as he was already booked for a puja in Phoenix, Arizona over Skype," said an amused Arvind Mahale, a Vashi resident.