Yogi’s Temple Model and the Economics of Faith

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath believes that faith is not an economic burden but a form of capital. If recognised and nurtured, it can become a source of employment, investment and confidence. This approach is as significant from an economic perspective as it is from an ideological one.

Human beings have traditionally been regarded as rational creatures who weigh every decision on the scales of profit and loss. Indian society, however, has quietly challenged this assumption for centuries. Markets flourished in temple courtyards, trade prospered in the shadow of fairs and pilgrimage centres, and economies thrived alongside religion on riverbanks. The ghats of Kashi, the narrow lanes of Mathura and the banks of the Saryu in Ayodhya were not merely places of worship; they were also economic centres of their time.

Uttar Pradesh is now reviving this forgotten tradition in a new language. Underlying this approach is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s belief that faith is not an economic burden but a form of capital that, if recognised and nurtured, can become a source of employment, investment and confidence. This approach is as significant from an economic perspective as it is from an ideological one, and deserves to be examined with equal depth.

Let us begin with the facts. According to government data, more than 950 temples and pilgrimage sites across Uttar Pradesh have been renovated, expanded or reconstructed since 2021. More than 650 projects had been completed by 2025, while around 300 were at advanced stages of implementation. There is perhaps hardly any constituency among Uttar Pradesh’s 403 Assembly constituencies where work has not been undertaken at one to five religious sites.

The number of domestic tourists has risen from 23 crore in 2017 to 156 crore by the end of 2025. This is no coincidence. “This is a shift in the economy from graveyards to temples.” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s words undoubtedly carry a political edge, but........

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