'Maha Kumbh of temples' to be held between Feb 17-19 in Tirupati

Mumbai: The International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX) - dubbed as the Maha Kumbh of temples - is set to be held in the temple town of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh from February 17 to 19, 2025. 

Developed by Temple Connect (India), ITCX stands as the world’s first groundbreaking platform exclusively devoted to the comprehensive management of temples worldwide, aiming to empower excellence in the administration, operations, and advancements of the temple economy.  

Spanning three immersive days, ITCX will build a dynamic forum for the seamless exchange of knowledge and valuable insights among temple management teams worldwide, including heads of temples, trustees, and administrators from Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism - all under one roof.

The key highlight of the convention includes case study exhibitions (CSE) from these devotional institutions across 58 countries, offering invaluable learnings and diverse perspectives. 

This exclusive event is designed to establish and promote best practices while shaping a sustainable, forward-thinking approach to temple administration. 

It also offers a unique opportunity for the younger generation, brand solutions providers, and policymakers to engage and enhance the devotees' experience, while gaining actionable insights to drive positive change and innovation in temple management.

Spearheaded by Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect, this landmark event is co-led by Prasad Lad, Chairman of ITCX 2025 and member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

The convention plays a transformative role in elevating the Temple Tourism and Pilgrimage Ecosystem, with the esteemed backing of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, under the “Incredible India” initiative. 

“Following the success of the first edition, where we welcomed representatives from hundreds of temples, this year we look forward to an even larger gathering of over 1,580 temples - 1,200 participating physically and around 351 online - from 58+ countries and 2,400+ delegates in hybrid format. Together, we will strengthen our temple ecosystems and uplift our spiritual communities through the insights of visionary speakers, leaders, and supporters,” said Kulkarni.

With a sharp focus on the pillars of temple management, the conclave will address critical issues ranging from temple safety, cutting-edge security and surveillance protocols, to strategic fund management and comprehensive disaster management.

It will also address essential aspects of sanitation and hygiene standards, and food distribution management (particularly for large-scale meal services), along with the integration of over 75 high-tech innovations in the Temple & Faith Tech space.

In addition to these pressing topics, ITCX will delve deep into insightful discussions around crowd and queue management, sustainable waste management practices, and infrastructure development - all designed to enrich the sacred experiences of devotees and strengthen the temple ecosystem holistically.