Privacy Policy

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Sikhs In India ("we", "us", "our") operates sikhsinindia.com, a community platform dedicated to Sikh heritage, history and welfare initiatives. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use our website and related services — including our membership directory, event/Sewa registrations, and WhatsApp messaging — how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.

By using our website or registering with us, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

When you register as a member or submit a form on our site, we may collect:

Identity & contact details: full name, greeting name, email address, mobile number, age, gender identity, residential address, city and state.
Account credentials: a password, stored securely (hashed) via Firebase Authentication — we never store passwords in plain text.
Event & Sewa details: information you submit for Akhand Path requests, calendar bookings, honoree names, dates and related event information.
Communications: records of emails and WhatsApp messages we send you (e.g. delivery status), and any messages or feedback you send us.
Usage data: basic analytics about how visitors use our site (pages viewed, approximate location, device/browser type) via Google Analytics.

2. WhatsApp Messaging & Consent

We only send you WhatsApp messages if you explicitly opt in by checking the consent box on our registration form: "I agree to receive WhatsApp messages (event reminders, greetings, announcements) from Sikhs In India on the mobile number above." This is optional — you can register without it, and can change your preference at any time by contacting us.

WhatsApp messages are sent using Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API), through pre-approved message templates only — for example event reminders, Akhand Path invites, festival greetings, and account-related notices such as password-reset codes. We do not use WhatsApp for unsolicited marketing or sell your number to third parties.

Your mobile number and the message content/template parameters (such as names and event details needed to personalise the message) are passed securely to Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform solely to deliver that message.

3. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your membership record in our directory.
To process and coordinate Akhand Path, Sewa and event requests you submit.
To send account-related communications (e.g. password resets) by email.
To send WhatsApp messages, but only where you have given consent as described above.
To understand overall site usage and improve our content and services.
To respond to queries sent via our Contact Us or Feedback pages.

4. Third-Party Services We Use

We rely on the following trusted service providers to operate our website. Each processes data under its own privacy policy:

Google Firebase / Firestore — secure storage of membership records, event templates and authentication.
Google Analytics — anonymised/aggregated website usage statistics.
Meta WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) — delivery of opted-in WhatsApp messages, accessed through our own Cloudflare Worker backend.
EmailJS — delivery of transactional emails (e.g. confirmations, password resets).
Cloudflare Workers — our backend infrastructure that securely relays requests to the services above.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to anyone. We only share it with the service providers listed above, strictly to the extent necessary to provide our services, or where required by law.

6. Data Retention

We retain your membership and event data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Section 7).

7. Your Rights & Choices

Opt out of WhatsApp messages at any time by emailing us — we will remove your number from future messaging.
Access, correct or delete your personal information by contacting us at the email address below.
Unsubscribe from email communications using the contact details provided in any email we send.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for a general audience and are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9. Security

We use industry-standard measures — including hashed passwords and secure, authenticated backend services — to protect your information. However, no method of transmission or storage over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise any of your rights above, please contact us at:

sikhsinindia@gmail.com