Across India, Temples have long been synonymous with community life and heritage. They are not merely sites of worship, but also open spaces where festivals, art, architecture, local knowledge, and memories gather and get shared. Very few people understand this living ecosystem as closely as Giresh Kulkarni, the founder of Temple Connect and the creator of the International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX). For years, he has worked closely with temples across the country, helping connect leaders, priests, trustees, and administrators to share ideas, streamline management practices, and build stronger cultural networks.
In this conversation, he reflects on how temples are changing, why young people are returning to them, and how temple networks play a larger role in shaping local economies and community life.
Early Beginnings
Kulkarni’s connection to temples is rooted in his childhood. He describes growing up around temple spaces and observing how they functioned, socially and spiritually. Over time, this familiarity grew into curiosity, and then into involvement.
This eventually led to the creation of Temple Connect, a platform aimed at documenting temple heritage, sharing knowledge, and enabling travel and community engagement. From there emerged ITCX, a biennial gathering that brings leaders from different temples together under one roof.
“Every temple has its own way of working,” he explained. “There was no shared space for learning from each other. ITCX helps build that collective understanding.”
The conference has grown steadily, with more attendees every year. Its very growth signals something important: the desire to rethink and strengthen the way temples are managed.
Why Professional Management Matters
Most temples in India operate through informal and community-driven systems. While these have sustained temples for centuries, they also result in uneven practices in maintenance, finance, hospitality, event organisation, and outreach.
Kulkarni believes there is now a need for more structure, not to replace tradition, but to support it.
“Temples are cultural institutions,” he said. “To preserve them, we need shared standards and leadership.”
This is not about corporatization, he clarifies, but about knowledge circulation—learning what works, what sustains, and what keeps temples meaningful for future generations.
The Return of Young People to Temples
Recent years have seen a noticeable shift: young people are returning to temple spaces, but in ways that differ from older generations. Kulkarni attributes this to two key forces:
Social media — which now surfaces histories, stories, rituals, and architecture in seconds
Connectivity, with better transport systems making temple visits easy and spontaneous
“Earlier, people depended on books or travel guides. Today, a single post or reel can inspire someone to travel and experience a temple,” he said.
Importantly, the trend is not limited to famous temples. Smaller and lesser-known temples are also seeing new attention, often through personal storytelling online. Simultaneously, new temples are being built, increasing accessibility and allowing people to engage with faith within everyday distance.
Religion and Public Life
Religion today is far more visible in public and political conversations. Kulkarni views this as a shift in awareness, particularly since 2014.
“Religion is not something separate from identity,” he noted. “It is woven into people’s lives. And when awareness grows, engagement grows.”
His perspective emphasizes belonging and recognition rather than division.
Temples as Drivers of Local Economies
Historically, many Indian towns formed around major temples. The temple supported artisans, traders, cooks, priests, musicians, travelers, and festivals. Madurai, Tirupati, Udupi, and Kashi are enduring examples.
Kulkarni argues that this model still holds tremendous potential, especially if reimagined for today.
He gives the example of destination weddings:
“If weddings are hosted in temple towns instead of luxury resorts, the whole town benefits,” he said. “It feeds families, supports local businesses, and keeps culture alive.”
This is not nostalgia—it’s a viable economic model, rooted in community-led growth.
For Kulkarni, temples are not relics of the past. They are living cultural ecosystems—places where identity, memory, art, faith, livelihood, and belonging continue to converge.
In an era where people are searching for meaning and connection, temples are being rediscovered not only as spiritual sites, but as spaces of shared community and cultural renewal. Through initiatives like Temple Connect and ITCX, Kulkarni hopes to strengthen these spaces, ensuring they stay relevant and rooted for generations to come.
