Cultural economies of worship: Tracing rituals, wealth and influence through structured literature and citation mapping

Abstract

Religion, culture, and money are combined in temples for worship, preservation, and economic growth. Their festivals, pilgrimages, and rituals support handicrafts and employment. Globalisation and technology have altered temple economies and imperilled cultural authenticity. Cultural dynamics and temple economics are examined via significant subjects, trends, and difficulties in this scholarly review. This study stresses new research needs and temples' social, economic, and cultural preservation functions. Thematic analysis and data extraction show trends. This analysis discusses temples' significance in local economic development, their revenue from festivals and rituals, how modernity and technology impact temple autonomy and resource management, globalisation's concerns, and the government's involvement. It also shows how temples are vital to society and the economy despite cultural and technological developments and its need for community, cultural, and economic prosperity.