There are events that make headlines. And then there are events that make history.

Day 1 of the International Temples Convention & Expo (ITCX) 2025 at Tirupati wasn’t just the opening of a convention – it was a statement. A bold one. One that echoed through the halls of temple corridors, through the voices of leaders, and into the very soul of temple management in India. This year, ITCX wasn’t just bigger – it was deeper, stronger, and more grounded in purpose.

A Personal Moment of Reflection

As I stood at the Asha Convention Centre in Tirupati, watching the gathering swell with energy, one moment hit me like none before – the presence of three Chief Ministers on a single day, at a non-government platform, focused purely on temples, their management, and the ecosystem around them.

In today’s India, that’s not just rare – that’s historic.

Their presence was not ceremonial. It was intentional. Each one brought their unique vision – from infrastructure to spiritual economy, from culture to digitisation – and reinforced a fact we’ve always believed in at Temple Connect: temples aren’t just spiritual spaces; they’re economic, cultural, and community powerhouses.

Temple administrators, spiritual leaders, policy influencers,  all stood together, not in ritual, but in resolve. Conversations weren’t confined to tradition; they expanded into technology, sustainability, governance, and cultural preservation.

It was no longer about managing crowds. It became about managing the future – of temples, of devotees, and of the ecosystems that thrive around them. This day was proof that temples are no longer isolated spiritual hubs. They are living, breathing institutions that must be equipped for the evolving needs of society – with vision, clarity, and bold action.