Frequently asked questions
What is Pratham Pranam?
Pratham Pranam is an app of stories, mantras, aartis and festivals for children aged 2 to 10. It brings the tales of our deities, their leelas and their journeys to your child, told the way a grandparent would tell them at bedtime: slowly, warmly, and with a lot of love. Every story is illustrated and narrated, so even the youngest children can sit back, listen and look at the pictures. Along the way, children learn the mantras and aartis they hear at home and in the mandir, and the stories behind the festivals the family celebrates together. Our hope is simple: that your child grows up knowing these stories as their own, and carries their values through life. Pratham Pranam is in Hindi and English for now, and more Indian languages will follow. It is made for iPhone, iPad and Android.
What age is it for?
Pratham Pranam is for children aged 2 to 10, and it grows with your child in three stages. Bal, for ages 2 to 3, hears shorter, simpler versions of each story, with gentle narration and bright pictures that hold a little one's attention. Jigyasu, for ages 3 to 6, is the age of endless questions, so stories here are fuller and explain more of the why behind what happens. Shishya, for ages 6 to 10, goes deeper: into the epics, the meaning of each mantra, and the values and choices at the heart of every story. At every stage, the context and tone of a story are set to suit your child's age, so nothing feels too much for a little one or too simple for an older child. As your child grows, the same stories they loved at three open up in new ways.
Is Pratham Pranam free?
Yes, Pratham Pranam is free to download. The free plan includes a selection of stories, mantras and aartis, so you and your child can explore the app and get a feel for it before deciding anything. A family subscription opens a much larger library, with many more stories, mantras, aartis and festival stories, along with features made only for subscribers. Subscriptions are bought and managed entirely through the App Store or Google Play. They show you the price and any free trial before you confirm, and handle payment, renewal and cancellation for you, so you never share card details with us directly.
Is it safe for my child?
Yes. Pratham Pranam is built from the ground up to be a safe, calm place for young children. We promise no ads, no third-party integrations, no behavioural tracking, no chat, no social features and no user-generated content. Your child will only ever see stories, mantras and aartis that our team has made and reviewed. Everything meant for grown-ups, including payments, settings and learning goals, sits in a separate grown-up area behind a parental lock, so your child cannot wander in or buy anything by accident. From the grown-up area you can set a daily time limit, turn on bedtime mode for gentle wind-down evenings, and see what your child has been exploring.
Who checks the stories?
Every story is taken from the scriptures themselves: the Valmiki Ramayana and its kandas, the Ramcharitmanas, the Mahabharata, the Upanishads, and Puranas such as the Bhagavata, Vishnu and Shiva Puranas. Each story names its source and who composed it, such as Maharishi Valmiki, Ved Vyasa or Goswami Tulsidas, so you always know where it comes from. Our scholars review every story, mantra and aarti as part of how it is made, checking that it stays true to the source before it ever reaches your child. Storytellers then listen to each story and shape how it is told, so it is not only faithful but also engaging and fun for a child to hear again and again.
Which stories, mantras and aartis are inside?
Stories of the deities, their journeys and their leelas: Ganesha's wisdom, Hanuman's devotion, the childhood of Krishna, the courage of Rama and much more. Every festival has its own story, so your child knows why we light diyas on Diwali or tie a rakhi on Raksha Bandhan. Many stories also carry values like kindness, honesty, sharing and respect, told in a way children understand. The mantras are the ones families recite before puja, through the day, or in a quiet moment of meditation, such as the Gayatri mantra, Karpur Gauram and Asato Ma Sadgamaya. The aartis include Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Jai Ganesh Deva and Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, so your child can sing along at the next family puja.
Is it in Hindi?
Yes. Right now every story, mantra and aarti is in Hindi and English, and you can switch between them at any time, even in the middle of a story. More Indian languages are coming soon. When they arrive, you will be able to set your own language, such as Gujarati or Bengali, as the app's primary language in settings, so your child hears stories in the language spoken at home. English will always be there as the second language, to help your child follow along and understand every word. Mantras and aartis always show Devanagari with transliteration in Roman letters and their meaning, so children who are still learning the script can recite along too.
Does it work offline?
Not yet. For now, Pratham Pranam needs an internet connection to play stories, mantras and aartis. We know how much families want stories they can take anywhere, so downloads are coming soon for subscribers. Once they arrive, you will be able to save your child's favourites ahead of time and keep them playing on a flight, a long train journey or a visit to the village, with no internet needed.
Does it follow one tradition?
No. The core library brings together Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta stories, so your child meets Vishnu and his avatars, Shiva and his family, and the many forms of Devi. None of them is presented as the only right way. Every family has its own ishta devata and its own way of worship, and Pratham Pranam is made to feel at home in all of them.
Does my child need to know how to read?
Not at all. Every story, mantra and aarti is narrated, so even a two-year-old can simply listen, look at the pictures and fall in love with the stories, just as children always have on a grandparent's lap. There is no pressure to read and no wrong way to enjoy it. As your child grows and starts reading, they can follow the words on screen while they listen, and many children pick up new words and even a little Devanagari along the way. Whether your child is listening, reading or singing along, they are learning.
I don't know these stories well myself. Can I still use it with my child?
Absolutely, and you are not alone. Many parents grew up far from home, far from grandparents, or simply never had someone to tell them these stories, and Pratham Pranam is made just as much for you. You don't need to know anything before you begin. Sit with your child, listen together, and discover the stories side by side. Every story names its source, and mantras and aartis come with their meaning, so you will understand what you are hearing too. Many parents find that these quiet moments become a favourite part of the day, and that they end up learning as much as their children. Your child does not need you to be an expert. They just need you there, listening with them.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, at any time, with no questions asked. Because subscriptions are handled by the App Store and Google Play, you cancel from your subscription settings there: on iPhone and iPad through your Apple ID in Settings, and on Android through the Google Play Store app. You keep full access until the end of the period you have already paid for, and nothing renews after that. Your child can still enjoy everything in the free plan, and if you change your mind later, you can subscribe again in a few taps.
When can I download it?
Pratham Pranam is launching soon on the App Store and Google Play. Honestly, we are as eager as you are to get it into your hands, so you can try it out and listen to all the wonderful stories we have to tell you and your child. Join the waitlist on this page and we will let you know the day it is ready.