In short
- Start with written permission from the temple trust, and follow its rules on where cameras may go.
- Most of the day is recorded darshan and aarti, replayed on the temple's own timings in IST.
- For the main aartis, use the live camera on its own stream key, or take turns with the replay — never both on one key at once.
- One PC in the temple office runs it. Put it, and the router, on a UPS.
- Title it honestly: "24/7 darshan", with the live aartis marked as live.
Introduction
For a devotee far from home, a darshan stream is a way to start the day with the deity. For a temple, it is a way to reach people who cannot travel. Both want the same thing from it: that it is there, every time someone opens it.
Keeping a camera and an operator going around the clock is not realistic for most temples. This guide shows the practical alternative, and how it fits around the live aartis you do want to stream. For the devotional music side — the weekly deity calendar and bhajan playlists — see the 24/7 devotional bhajan stream guide.
What a Darshan Stream Is
| Part of the stream | What it shows | Live or recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Darshan | The deity during open hours | Usually recorded and replayed |
| Aarti | Morning, noon and evening aarti | Recorded; the main ones live where possible |
| Closed hours | Bhajans, stotras, discourses | Recorded |
| Festivals | Utsavams, processions, special pujas | Live on the day, replayed afterwards |
Viewers do not need every minute to be live. They need the stream to follow the temple's day, so that evening aarti appears in the evening.
Permission Comes First
Before anything is filmed, get written permission from the temple trust or administration. It should say what may be filmed, where cameras may stand, and that the recordings will be streamed publicly.
- Many temples do not allow photography near the sanctum. Follow the rule, even if the shot would be better.
- Agree who owns the recordings and who controls the YouTube channel.
- Agree what happens to the recordings if the arrangement ends.
- Keep the letter. It is also your answer if a recording is ever disputed.
Recording Darshan & Aarti
A good library is mostly a matter of recording each part of the day properly a few times.
- Record each daily aarti several times, so the replay is not the same clip every day.
- Record long, steady darshan shots — 30 to 60 minutes each — from the approved position.
- Use the same camera position and settings each time, so recordings match.
- Record clean audio of the bells and chanting; it matters as much as the picture.
- Export every file the same way: MP4, 1920×1080, 30 fps. StreamOps converts files that do not match, but matching exports keep the switches clean.
Following the Temple Day
Keep a base playlist running all day, and schedule the recording for each fixed slot at the temple's timings. An example day, in IST:
| Time (IST) | At the temple | On the stream |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 – 6:00 | Suprabhatam / morning aarti | Recorded aarti, or the live camera |
| 6:00 – 12:00 | Morning darshan | Recorded darshan and morning bhajans |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Noon aarti | Recorded noon aarti |
| 12:30 – 16:00 | Temple closed | Stotras, discourses, past festival highlights |
| 16:00 – 18:30 | Evening darshan | Recorded darshan and evening bhajans |
| 18:30 – 19:00 | Sandhya aarti | Live camera, then back to recordings |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Night darshan | Recorded darshan |
| 21:00 – 5:30 | Shayan / temple closed | Night bhajans and stotras at low volume |
Every temple keeps its own timings, and many change them for festivals or seasons. Use your temple's, and say in the description that the schedule is in IST.
Handing Over to the Live Aarti
A live aarti is the moment devotees wait for, so it is worth streaming live when you can. StreamOps plays recordings; the live camera needs its own encoder on site, such as a camera with built-in streaming or OBS on a laptop.
Two encoders must never send to the same stream key at the same time. There are two clean ways to do it:
- A separate stream key for the live camera (simplest). The live aarti becomes its own broadcast on the channel, the replays keep running, and nothing has to be stopped. Announce the live aarti in the replay's description or a community post.
- One stream key, taking turns. Stop the replay from the StreamOps dashboard a few minutes before the aarti, stream the aarti from the live camera, then start the replay again. StreamOps does not stop and start streams on a timer, so someone does this — from a phone is fine.
Taking turns on one key can start a new YouTube broadcast with a new link each time. Share the channel's /live link, which points at what is live now. Why the link changes is explained in YouTube stream keys explained.
Step-by-Step Setup
From the temple trust or administration, covering what may be filmed, where the camera may stand, and that the recordings will be streamed on YouTube.
Record darshan, each daily aarti and festival events. Export every file with the same settings and name them by slot ("evening-aarti-01.mp4").
Install StreamOps, point it at the folder of recordings, and connect a UPS. The PC needs a wired connection with at least 5 Mbps of upload per stream.
The base playlist of darshan and bhajans plays whenever nothing else is scheduled. For each fixed slot — morning aarti, noon aarti, evening aarti — have one recording ready. A slot longer than one recording can be exported as a single long file.
Add a daily schedule for each slot at the temple's timings. Each one plays that slot's recording for its window and hands back to the base playlist when it ends. A schedule can also change the YouTube title, for example to "Evening Aarti".
Add the stream key, connect the channel, and run a full day as an unlisted stream before you make it public.
Scheduling a recording for a time slot uses the scheduler, which is on the Creator plan and above. Each schedule plays one video for its window, then the base playlist carries on. A single playlist that loops all day works on the free plan. The devotional stream guide walks through setting up recurring schedules with screenshots.
Internet & Power Cuts
- Upload: about 5 Mbps of steady upload per stream. Use a wired broadband connection, not mobile data.
- UPS: put the PC and the router on a UPS. Most power cuts are short, and a UPS keeps the stream on through them.
- After a longer cut: set the PC to switch on by itself when power returns (a BIOS setting). StreamOps runs as a background service, so nobody has to sign in, and it restarts the stream by itself.
- Alerts: StreamOps notifies you when a stream crashes or fails to start, so someone can check before devotees notice.
Keeping Windows from sleeping or updating under the stream is covered in stream without OBS or your PC sleeping.
Festivals & Utsavams
Festivals are when viewers arrive in the largest numbers. Plan them ahead: stream the main events live, then add the recordings to the library so next year's festival stream has them for the days around it.
Plan the festival days once
Set the festival dates in the scheduler at the start of the year, each with its own recording. The stream then changes for each festival without anyone remembering to do it.
Several Deities or Languages
A temple with several shrines, or a channel serving devotees in more than one language, can run several streams from the same PC — one per shrine or language, each with its own stream key. The Creator plan runs up to five at once, provided the internet connection can carry all of them.
Common Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a temple stream darshan 24/7?
Record darshan and the daily aartis, then let software replay them on a schedule that follows the temple's timings. A single PC in the temple office can run it unattended, and the live camera can take over for the main aartis.
Do we need the temple's permission to stream darshan?
Yes. Get written permission from the temple trust or administration before filming or streaming, and follow its rules about where cameras may be used.
Can the stream show the live aarti and then go back to recordings?
Yes. The simplest way is to give the live camera its own stream key, so the live aarti is a separate broadcast and the replays keep running. If you want both on one stream key, stop the replay from the StreamOps dashboard before the aarti and start it again afterwards; StreamOps does not stop and start streams on a timer.
Can StreamOps stream the live temple camera?
StreamOps streams recorded video files and screen captures. For a live camera at the temple, use a camera with a built-in encoder or OBS on site, and use StreamOps for the 24/7 replays around it.
What internet speed does a temple need?
About 5 Mbps of steady upload for each stream, on a wired connection. Mobile data works for a test but is rarely steady enough for round-the-clock streaming.
What happens during a power cut?
Without a UPS the PC switches off and the stream stops. With StreamOps, the stream restarts by itself once the PC is back on. A UPS on the PC and the router avoids most of these gaps.
Should the stream follow IST even for devotees abroad?
Yes. The darshan follows the temple's day, so keep the schedule in IST and mention it in the description. Devotees abroad generally prefer the temple's real timings.
Conclusion
A 24/7 darshan stream is mostly preparation: permission, a careful library of recordings, and a schedule that follows the temple's day. Once that is in place, one PC in the office keeps it running, and the live camera is free for the aartis and festivals that deserve it.
