(March 30, 2026) At the historic Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni of Temple Connect was named among the Global Thought Leaders of the Year 2025. The recognition counts his two-decade mission to modernise and digitally connect 12,864 temples worldwide among the work of global changemakers.
For Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni, temple visits are much more than just offering prayers. They are a dialogue with the history, architecture, energy, and divinity of temples. With an eye for detail, he goes around temples understanding their overall functioning — right from their origins, architectural evolution, rituals, administrative systems, the socio-economic ecosystem around them, and the spiritual energies that define them.
The meticulously collected information then finds its way to Temple Connect, a one-of-its-kind platform where devotees worldwide can access comprehensive information about temples, rituals, and local customs. “We have connected over 12,864 temples across the world with a motive of empowering the temple economy with improved temple management, administration, maintenance and operations,” says Giresh, Founder of Temple Connect, and the International Temples Convention & Expo, in a chat with Global Indian.
Giresh’s work not only earned him global accolades, it was also lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his cabinet colleagues, and Chief Ministers of various states.
Giresh Kulkarni at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, UK with fellow Global Thought Leaders of the Year 2025
A disciplined upbringing
Born in Pune, Giresh was largely brought up in Thane, Mumbai, where he spent the first 21 years of his life before moving back to Pune to pursue his management studies. His father served as a government official and retired as the Joint Director, Industries, Safety and Health, Government of Maharashtra.
Growing up in government quarters, Giresh was surrounded by families of IPS and IRS officers, and many of his childhood friends came from those backgrounds. “It was a progressive and disciplined environment, and that exposure shaped my thinking in many ways,” says Giresh, who was an average student, academically.
Grounded in faith
Being a single child in such a structured environment taught him independence quite early in life. “My childhood was relatively simple and grounded. Because of my father’s demanding government role, frequent holidays or leisure travel were rare.”
Most of his family outings revolved around temples, havans, pujans, and religious festivities. “We have been celebrating Ganesh Utsav in our family for nearly a hundred years now. That deep-rooted cultural and spiritual upbringing naturally drew me closer to devotional practices and shaped my worldview.” Those early influences played a significant role in aligning him with spirituality alongside his entrepreneurial ambitions.
The school play that sparked it all
A defining moment came in the form of directing a school play on Shirdi Sai Baba. Then in class 10, that experience was transformative for Giresh. “It was the first time I truly experienced leadership — bringing people together, managing rehearsals, shaping a vision, and delivering it on stage.” In hindsight, he says, that was perhaps the first spark of the leadership qualities that later defined his entrepreneurial journey.
Early entrepreneurial steps
Interestingly, Giresh’s entrepreneurial journey began quite early — at the age of 17, when he got into event management. Over the years, he managed numerous events and gradually built his career as an event and media communications professional. “Looking back, my journey has been a blend of discipline from a government household, early exposure to leadership through creative expression, and deep cultural grounding through faith and tradition.”
Temple Connect
Raised with a profound reverence for religious rituals and devotional practices, Giresh’s early life was steeped in spirituality. Yet his exposure to media, communication, and brand strategy provided him with a unique perspective — a vision to integrate devotion with modern technology.
His fascination with platforms like Wikipedia and the World Wide Web laid the foundation for Temple Connect. “This wasn’t just about digitisation; it was about creating an immersive, informative experience that would enrich the spiritual journey of every pilgrim,” says Giresh about his platform, founded in 2003.
Temple Connect was not built overnight. It was a meticulous process of identifying the needs of devotees, understanding the nuances of temple management, and leveraging technology to offer unparalleled services. Giresh’s expertise in media and event management played a crucial role in shaping the platform’s identity. The initiative establishes a global connection by creating a unified digital and professional network for Hindu temples across 58 countries.
A team of 40
Giresh’s core team is based in Pune, which he describes as a humble but highly committed team of around 40 people who manage multiple verticals — from temple management, event management, artist management, and brand communication to digital operations, HR, and administration. In addition, he has an in-house design and product development team that works specifically for The Indian Puja Company, focusing on creative and product innovation.
A man who has visited 4,800 temples, and counting
Before launching Temple Connect, Giresh had already visited over 2,000 temples to gain firsthand insights into the unique systemic gaps within temple ecosystems. Today, that number has crossed 4,800 unique temples globally. “I emphasise unique because it’s not about visiting the same temple multiple times, but about exploring different temple ecosystems, traditions, and histories,” he remarks.
Partnering with academic institutions to bridge the gaps
His primary challenge was the unorganised and outdated state of the temple ecosystem, which often led to poor devotee experiences and a lack of standardised management. “I overcame this by treating temple management with the same professional rigour as a corporate organisation.” To address the lack of professionalism, he partnered with academic institutions like the University of Mumbai, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Welingkar Institute of Management to create formal Diploma and PG programmes in temple management.
The launch of International Temple Convention and Expo (ITCX)
Founded in 2022 by Giresh, the International Temple Convention and Expo — is called the “Mahakumbh of Temples” for mirroring the scale, diversity, and spiritual significance of the traditional Kumbh Mela. It is the world’s first global-scale event dedicated to temple management. Its inaugural edition in Varanasi, held at the Rudraksh Convention Centre, was inaugurated by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat.
The convention brought together representatives from Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. “It hosted 1,098 delegates from 32 countries and 789 temples. Today, it serves as a forum for temple leaders, trustees, and CEOs to exchange best practices,” informs Giresh, highlighting that the convention aims to establish uniform benchmarks for hygiene, safety, and operational efficiency across religious institutions. Importantly, the initiative explores how temples can drive local tourism, job creation, and community welfare through better financial and administrative management.
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PM Modi’s endorsement
The second edition of ITCX was held in Tirupati in 2025. It featured over 111 speakers and 15 specialised workshops, scaling significantly to include hybrid participation from over 1,581 devotional institutions across 58 countries, involving more than 2,400 delegates.
The event saw participation from high-ranking officials, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and several Union Ministers. Delegates from major shrines like Kashi Vishwanath, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Golden Temple, and Ayodhya Ram Mandir also participated. Both editions were hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a celebration of the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ the world is one family, highlighting its role in strengthening international ties through spiritual heritage.
Recognition at Cambridge
One of the major highlights of Giresh’s journey was being featured in the “Global Thought Leaders of the Year 2025” coffee table book, launched at the historic Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, UK. This recognition by the London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD) underscores the international significance of his work in transforming temple systems and spiritual infrastructure.
“Cambridge has long been a space of knowledge and leadership, and to be featured at a venue of such academic and cultural weight made the experience even more meaningful.” The honour became the heartbeat of every initiative Giresh has taken since. “To be recognised as a thought leader on a global stage, in the company of visionaries from across industries and countries, was both humbling and energising.”
Creative collaborations
Under Giresh’s leadership, Temple Connect has introduced the CHESS-G Doctrine, built on six pillars — Convenience, Hygiene, Experience, Sustainability, Safety, and Economic Growth — at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference 2026. He also participated in the International Congress for Wedding Futures (ICWF), sharing insights on temple towns becoming a wedding hub.
Giresh partnered with London-based Kirtan artist Radhika Das for his nine-city India Tour as a strategic community support partner, amplifying the spirit of bhakti, music, and meditation. He also collaborated with Trip To Temples to set new standards for safe, transparent, and seamless spiritual travel experiences.
Scaling the temple economy
Giresh says Temple Connect began as a mission to streamline and modernise temple ecosystems, but today it has grown into a much larger movement around the temple economy. His larger goal is to scale it into a globally organised, digitally advanced ecosystem. “We want to integrate infrastructure, governance, sustainability, tourism, education, and technology into one cohesive framework,” says Giresh, who also led the beautification of Ayodhya Ram Mandir for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January 2024.
He is already working toward making ITCX 2027 bigger, more global, and more impactful, positioning India as the thought leader in temple management and spiritual infrastructure worldwide.
A flair for visual creativity
Creativity has always been a parallel track running alongside Giresh’s entrepreneurial journey. He has always been inclined towards logo designing and creative communication. “I enjoy conceptualising ideas visually, whether it’s designing layouts, branding elements, or crafting communication from a strong aesthetic and strategic perspective.” He is also passionate about conceptualising innovative, experiential events that leave a lasting impact — formats that go well beyond the regular and run-of-the-mill.
A passion for music and artists
Another significant influence has been his exposure to artist management. Working closely with celebrated artists over the years brought him closer to the world of music. He is deeply passionate about Indian music, from classical ragas to ghazals, and is an ardent listener and collector of meaningful music albums. “For me, music is not just entertainment; it’s a form of emotional and spiritual connection.”
Life on the move
Though Giresh’s work pattern is intense and dynamic, travel is a big part of his routine. “I’m on the move almost 18 to 20 days every month, both nationally and internationally.” No matter where he is, his day starts early with Dev Pooja, followed by a walk or light exercise and a healthy breakfast. “That grounding in the morning really sets the tone for the rest of the day.”
The Kailash transformation
One of the most transformative journeys of his life was visiting Mount Kailash and undertaking the 58-kilometre parikrama, along with a visit to Mansarovar. “The experience was profoundly spiritual. The energy there is indescribable.” The Kailash journey, he says, is as much inward as it is outward. “It pushes you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It transforms your perspective on time, life, and purpose.”
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As my Senior in School, so proud of your accomplishments and visible contributions globally.
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