How India’s favorite pastimes are going digital

Digital technology has grown to become an integral part of everyday life for people all over the world in recent years. This is certainly the case for how we all work, where advances like emails and video conferencing tech are common in most businesses. Online technology has also become something most people around the world use in their personal lives, which is certainly the case in India.

The most popular pastimes around this country are moving online and going digital at a rapid rate. Here is how some of the top hobbies of Indians are making this move: 

Gaming

India is a country that has a real passion for playing games. It is set to generate an estimated $10bn in games revenue by the end of 2025. Recent years have undoubtedly resulted in gaming around the country undergoing a digital transformation, and this includes all forms of the modern gaming industry. 

Video gaming is obviously the main example to consider and fresh digital ways of playing are all the rage in India now. Online gaming is very popular and involves people across the country logging onto play hit titles over the internet. 

Playing video games on mobile is another good example to consider and involves Indians using the latest mobile internet networks to have fun. This is a marked change from the past, when video gaming was almost exclusively an offline activity.

Casino games like poker have always been popular with Indians and also shows that gaming in the country is going truly digital. Residents are now signing up with trusted Indian casinos to play classic games via the internet. Top brands operating in the local market include Bally Casino, Casumo and LottoGo Casino. All these platforms offer a safe place to play with huge game libraries to choose from. 

Sports

Following and playing sports are practically national obsessions for Indians. This is evident when you consider the core role that cricket plays in daily life and how many people in the country follow its every move. When you add in other popular examples, such as soccer and field hockey, it becomes clear how popular sports are. 

This is also a sector which has undergone a digital transformation lately. There are now lots of online sports news sites and podcasts for Indians to visit to get the freshest stories. This is a break from the past, when catching up on the latest gossip was done offline.

Of course, watching games has also become increasingly digital lately. Online platforms allow matches to be streamed via the internet and make it simple to keep up with the biggest events. Social media has had its own impact, and platforms like X enable Indian sports fans to connect with others online. In the same way as something like how Minecraft changed gaming forever, social media has altered how Indians engage with sports for good. 

Shopping

As is the case in many other parts of the world, shopping is something lots of people in India like to do during their free time. There’s no doubt that this is a pastime that is becoming more digital for them as we move forward, though.

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular around the country. In 2024, the country’s e-commerce industry was valued at around $147bn, which indicates how robust it is. 

Stats like this make it clear how well-loved online shopping is for Indians now, but it also demonstrates how they choose to shop has changed. While this would have meant heading to markets or shops in person before, many people now indulge their passion for retail therapy online. Top brands like Amazon, Myntra and Flipkart have all helped drive this change and give Indians a new way to shop. 

Streaming for music, movies and TV

We’ve already mentioned how online streaming has changed how India enjoys its sports. Online streaming is also having a major impact on other popular pastimes in the country, such as listening to music, watching movies and catching TV shows. 

This shift away from more traditional TV networks to online content streaming platforms has given Indian viewers a lot more choice in terms of what to watch. Netflix India has numerous TV shows and movies to select from. This not only includes those from the local Indian market but also international hits. 

When it comes to online streaming platforms for music, big hitters like Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music rule the roost. Lots of Indians now choose to listen to music via online platforms like this, which marks a move away from how they did it in the past. 

Religious worship

Religion still plays a major part in daily life around the country. Although the impact of the online world is only just being felt here, it is starting to have an effect. This is changing how people worship around the country and becoming more digital. 

Temples like Vasihno Devi and Tirupati for example offer live-streamed online darshans to view. These come with the chance to book online puras for devotees and have priests performing rituals on a remote basis. 

Online video sharing site YouTube is starting to make its presence felt in this area, with religious influencers broadcasting their thoughts for people to watch. Religious-themed videos for Indians allow them to gain exposure to new ideas or reaffirm their faith without leaving the house. 

Food in India 

Anyone who has spent any time in India knows that food is very important and that enjoying tasty meals is something people there like to do. This is not just about eating and drinking but also about meeting up with friends to socialize. 

The culinary scene within the country is having its own digital revolution as we speak. Social media trends from sites like Instagram are changing what foods Indians like to cook and how they access recipes. They’re also responsible for driving viral food trends within the country, like butter boards.  

India undergoing a digital transformation

After reading the above, it’s clear that many of the most popular pastimes within India are experiencing real digital change. This is altering not only how people in the country engage in their hobbies but also how the companies and sectors involved offer them.