Introduction

Houston Ayyappas is a volunteer-led devotional community dedicated to helping Lord Ayyappa devotees observe Mandala Vratham and participate in associated religious and spiritual activities.

We respect the privacy of our devotees, members, volunteers, and website visitors. We recognize the importance of protecting personal information shared with us through our website, membership portal, event registrations, and community activities.

This Privacy Policy explains the information we collect, how we use it, when it may be shared, and the choices available to you.

Houston Ayyappas is a community support group independent of Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS). MTS maintains its own policies governing information collected through its own systems, services, and activities.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect information necessary to administer our website, support devotional activities, coordinate registrations, and communicate with our community.

a. Personal and Membership Information

When you register as a member, submit a form, or participate in an activity, we may collect:

• First and last name.

• Email address and telephone number.

• City, state, and other contact information.

• Member account and registration details.

• Communication preferences.

• Information voluntarily provided through contact forms or other communications.

Members may be able to review and update certain personal details through their Houston Ayyappas member accounts.

b. Event and Religious Activity Registrations

When registering for Irumudi, Mandala Vratham-related activities, home poojas, Annadhanam, volunteering, or other events, we may collect:

• Requested dates and event selections.

• Irumudi registration and participation details.

• Number of adult and child participants.

• Names of additional participants or family members, where necessary.

• Religious observance-related information voluntarily provided for coordination.

• Requests, comments, and special arrangements.

• Registration and submission history.

• Payment or contribution details relevant to the registration.

We request that devotees provide only information reasonably necessary for the applicable activity.

c. Donations and Payment Information

When contributions, donations, or registration payments are made through the website, we may receive information including:

• Payment amount.

• Transaction date.

• Payment or transaction reference.

• Payment status.

• Contributor or registrant information.

• Applicable registration or sponsorship details.

Online payments may be processed through Wix or integrated third-party payment providers.

Payment providers may collect and process card or other payment credentials under their own privacy and security policies.

Houston Ayyappas does not intend to independently collect or store complete payment card numbers or security codes through its general membership and registration records.

d. Website Usage Information

Our website platform and supporting services may automatically collect technical information such as:

• IP address.

• Browser and device information.

• Operating system.

• Pages visited and interactions with website features.

• Approximate location derived from technical information.

• Cookies and similar identifiers.

• Login and website activity information.

This information may help us operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website.

2. How We Use Your Information

Houston Ayyappas uses personal information for legitimate community and website administration purposes, including:

Membership Administration

• Processing membership registrations and approvals.

• Creating and maintaining member accounts.

• Allowing members to manage personal information.

• Authenticating users and maintaining website security.

Devotional Activities and Registrations

• Coordinating Mandala Vratham-related activities.

• Processing Irumudi and other event registrations.

• Communicating dates, schedules, and instructions.

• Coordinating volunteer assistance and available resources.

• Helping organize community gatherings and devotional programs.

• Maintaining registration records and preventing duplicate or incorrect entries.

Payment and Contribution Administration

• Recording registration fees and contributions.

• Reconciling payment and registration information.

• Responding to payment-related inquiries.

• Maintaining necessary financial and transaction records.

Communication

• Sending registration confirmations and important updates.

• Communicating changes to schedules and activities.

• Responding to member inquiries.

• Sharing community announcements and devotional information.

Website Administration

• Maintaining and improving website functionality.

• Troubleshooting technical issues.

• Preventing unauthorized access and misuse.

• Meeting applicable legal, recordkeeping, and compliance obligations.

We aim to use personal information only for appropriate purposes connected with the activities described in this Policy.

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

Houston Ayyappas does not sell personal information to data brokers or third-party marketers.

We may disclose relevant information in the following circumstances.

a. Authorized Houston Ayyappas Coordinators

Information may be made available to authorized volunteers and coordinators who need it to administer membership, coordinate activities, communicate with registrants, or resolve registration-related questions.

Access should be limited to information reasonably necessary for those responsibilities.

b. Website and Service Providers

We use Wix to support website hosting, member accounts, forms, registration data, and related website functions.

We may also use third-party services for payment processing, communications, technical support, or event coordination.

These providers process information according to their respective services, agreements, and privacy practices.

c. Sri Meenakshi Temple and Other Venues

Houston Ayyappas is independent of Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS).

Where coordination with MTS or another venue is necessary for a specific activity, relevant registration or participant information may be communicated to authorized representatives when appropriate and consistent with applicable privacy obligations.

Such sharing will be limited to information reasonably necessary for the relevant coordination.

Information independently collected by MTS through its own website, forms, payment systems, or temple operations is governed by MTS's applicable policies.

Houston Ayyappas does not control the privacy practices or information systems of MTS or other independent organizations.

d. Legal and Safety Requirements

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful requests, protect rights and safety, or investigate suspected misuse of the website.

e. Public Disclosure

Member contact details and individual registration records are not intended to be publicly displayed.

Community photographs, acknowledgments, or event-related information may be published where appropriate permissions and applicable requirements are satisfied.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

HoustonAyyappas.com uses the Wix platform and may use cookies or similar technologies to:

• Maintain login sessions.

• Remember website preferences.

• Support security and authentication.

• Enable website forms and functionality.

• Understand website performance and visitor interactions.

Certain cookies may be necessary for the website to function properly.

Other cookies or tracking technologies may depend on the specific services and features enabled on the website.

Visitors can manage cookies through available website consent settings and browser controls.

Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality, including member login and registration features.

5. Data Security and Member Privacy

Houston Ayyappas recognizes the importance of protecting personal information.

We use the security features available through our website platform and seek to apply reasonable administrative and technical safeguards appropriate to our activities.

These may include:

• Member login and authentication.

• Access controls for administrative functions.

• Restricted access to member information.

• Member-specific submission history.

• Secure website connections.

• Use of established service providers for payments and website hosting.

Our My Submissions functionality is designed so authenticated members can access registration information associated with their own accounts, subject to the available identity verification and system controls.

Authorized administrators and coordinators may have broader access where necessary for their responsibilities.

Members are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and reporting suspected unauthorized account access.

Although reasonable precautions are taken, no electronic system or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

We respect devotees' ability to review and manage their personal information.

Subject to applicable law and reasonable verification of identity, members may request to:

• Access personal information associated with their account.

• Correct or update inaccurate information.

• Request deletion of eligible personal information.

• Ask how their information is collected, used, or shared.

• Update communication preferences.

• Unsubscribe from optional promotional communications.

Certain information may need to be retained for legitimate administrative purposes, payment reconciliation, dispute resolution, security, recordkeeping, or legal compliance.

Deleting a website account may not automatically delete every historical transaction, submission, or record held by relevant service providers.

Requests concerning personal information can be submitted through the Contact Us page on HoustonAyyappas.com.

We may request reasonable verification before disclosing, correcting, or deleting personal information.

7. Children's Privacy

Houston Ayyappas activities may include participation by children and families.

Our website is not intended for independent registration by children under 13.

Parents or legal guardians should submit registrations and information concerning their minor children.

Child-related information may include names, participation details, or other information reasonably necessary for specific devotional activities.

Such information should be used only for appropriate registration, coordination, safety, and administrative purposes.

We do not knowingly seek personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate parental authorization.

Parents or guardians who believe that information about a child has been collected improperly may contact Houston Ayyappas to request review and appropriate action.

8. Third-Party Websites and Independent Organizations

Our website may provide links to:

• Sri Meenakshi Temple.

• Religious and devotional resources.

• Event registration or payment services.

• Community organizations.

• Other external websites and platforms.

These websites and services may collect personal information under their own policies.

Houston Ayyappas does not control the security, privacy practices, or content of third-party websites.

We encourage visitors to review the applicable privacy policies before submitting information or making payments through external services.

9. Data Retention and Privacy Policy Updates

Data Retention

Houston Ayyappas may retain membership information, registrations, communications, and payment-related records for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, subject to applicable retention requirements.

Information that is no longer reasonably necessary should be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise handled appropriately, subject to available technical capabilities and legal obligations.

Historical registration information may remain available in member submission records where its retention is appropriate.

Updates to This Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in website functionality, community activities, service providers, privacy practices, or applicable legal requirements.

The updated version will be published on HoustonAyyappas.com with a revised effective date.

Material changes will be communicated where reasonably appropriate or legally required.

10. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information, please contact:

Houston Ayyappas
Website: https://www.houstonayyappas.com
Contact: Website Contact Us form

For information collected directly by Sri Meenakshi Temple, please contact MTS through its official channels.

Our Commitment

Houston Ayyappas exists to support devotees in their spiritual journey through Mandala Vratham and associated devotional activities.

We recognize that devotees entrust us with personal information when registering, volunteering, making contributions, or requesting assistance.

We are committed to treating this information with care, respect, reasonable confidentiality, and appropriate safeguards while serving the devotional community.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!