Privacy Policy

At ISKCON Palghar, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our temple, use our website, or engage with our services.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Register for temple programs, festivals, or events
• Make donations or purchase items from our store
• Subscribe to our newsletter or mailing list
• Contact us through our website, email, or phone
• Participate in temple activities or volunteer services
• Book accommodation or meals at our facility

This information may include:

• Name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
• Date of birth and age information
• Donation history and financial transaction details
• Dietary preferences and special requirements
• Emergency contact information
• Photographs or videos taken during temple events (with consent)

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• IP address and browser type
• Operating system and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on our website
• Referring website addresses
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain temple services and programs
• To process your donations and maintain donation records
• To communicate with you about events, programs, and temple activities
• To send newsletters, spiritual literature, and promotional materials
• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• To improve our website, services, and user experience
• To ensure the safety and security of temple premises and visitors
• To comply with legal obligations and maintain financial records
• To analyze website usage and optimize our digital presence

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

ISKCON Palghar respects your privacy and does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, processing donations, or conducting temple activities
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or governmental request
• Safety and Security: We may share information to protect the rights, property, or safety of ISKCON Palghar, our visitors, or others
• With Your Consent: We may share information for any other purpose with your explicit consent

4. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure server infrastructure and encrypted data transmission
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Staff training on data protection and privacy practices
• Secure payment processing through trusted payment gateways

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve website functionality and performance
• Provide personalized content and recommendations

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access and Update: You may request access to and correction of your personal information
• Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from our mailing lists or marketing communications at any time
• Data Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and operational requirements
• Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your information
• Data Portability: You may request a copy of your information in a structured, machine-readable format

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

7. Children's Privacy

ISKCON Palghar welcomes families and children to our temple. However, our website and digital services are not specifically designed for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

8. Donations and Financial Information

When you make a donation to ISKCON Palghar, we collect information necessary to process your contribution and provide tax receipts as required by law. Your payment information is processed securely through encrypted payment gateways, and we do not store complete credit card or banking details on our servers.

Donation records are maintained for tax compliance and internal purposes. We respect donor confidentiality and will not share your donation information publicly without your consent.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms and partner organizations. This Privacy Policy applies only to ISKCON Palghar's website and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or organizational needs. The updated policy will be posted on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Significant changes to this policy will be communicated through our website or via email to registered users.

11. International Data Transfers

As part of the global ISKCON network, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside India. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.

12. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.