Aim <p>This study analyses the role of religious institutions as a means of communication in rural areas, where access to mass media is limited during crisis like COVID-19.</p> Subject and methods <p>The study is conducted in the rural pockets in the agriculture-dependent north western Indian state of Punjab where Sikhism is the highest followed religion. A total of 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals managing <i>Gurudwaras</i>, worship places of Sikhs.</p> Results <p>Results indicate that religious institutions of Sikhs (<i>Gurudwaras</i>) effectively disseminated information, serving as both a means of reaching remote communities with minimal efforts and leveraging personal influence to enhance the effectiveness of messages communicated to them.</p> Conclusion <p>This paper concludes that in crisis, religious institutions can play a crucial role in communication in areas with limited media access, addressing issues of both accessibility of information and credibility of information.</p>