Temple economy can drive regional development, says CUK Vice-Chancellor

Published 6 August 2026 · local

The Central University of Karnataka (CUK), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), on Wednesday commenced a three-day international conference on

The Central University of Karnataka (CUK), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), on Wednesday commenced a three-day international conference on “Temple Economy, Tourism and Public Policy: Governance, Livelihood and Sustainable Regional Development”. The experts participated in the event which highlighted the significant contribution of temples to economic growth, employment generation and social welfare. Inaugurating the conference, CUK Vice-Chancellor Battu Sathyanarayana said Indian temples are not merely centres of faith but also important engines of economic growth, employment, tourism and hospitality development. He observed that major temples contribute to the economy by supporting transportation, accommodation, food services, local businesses and several allied sectors.

Referring to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) as an example, he said large pilgrimage centres generate extensive economic activity by attracting millions of devotees, thereby creating employment opportunities and contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product through direct and indirect economic activities. He urged researchers to undertake more studies on the economic, social and governance dimensions of religious institutions to provide valuable inputs for public policy and national development. On the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor and other dignitaries released a research report titled “An Economic Analysis of Temples in Karnataka: A Case Study of Ganagapur, Kalaburagi”, prepared by S.

Lingamurthy, associate professor, Department of Economics, CUK, in collaboration with Samskruthi Foundation, Telangana. The conference featured keynote addresses by eminent scholars from India and abroad. Venkataramanaiah Saddikuti, professor at IIM Lucknow, spoke on the reconstruction of the Shri Ram Mandir and its economic impact on Ayodhya, while Darius Liutikas of the Institute of Sociology, Lithuania, discussed sacred spaces and pilgrimage tourism. Perunjodi Naidoo of the University of Technology, Mauritius, delivered a lecture on the role of food in enhancing pilgrimage experiences and promoting sustainable tourism. Two panel discussions on “Temple Economy and Sustainable Development” and “Temple-Based Sustainable Tourism Development” examined the role of temple ecosystems in promoting livelihoods, regional development and sustainable tourism.