Sacred Spaces and Sustainable Livelihoods: Examining Temple Micro-Economies, Gender Inclusion, and SDG Alignment in Rural Gujarat: Mixed-Methods Study

Manya Joshi

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.015

Title: Sacred Spaces and Sustainable Livelihoods: Examining Temple Micro-Economies, Gender Inclusion, and SDG Alignment in Rural Gujarat: Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Manya Joshi
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Publication Date: May 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.015
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Manya Joshi Student Researcher, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
MLA 8 Joshi, Manya. "Sacred Spaces and Sustainable Livelihoods: Examining Temple Micro-Economies, Gender Inclusion, and SDG Alignment in Rural Gujarat: Mixed-Methods Study." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 5, May 2026, pp. 2083-2098, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.015. Accessed May 2026. APA 6 Joshi, M. (2026, May). Sacred Spaces and Sustainable Livelihoods: Examining Temple Micro-Economies, Gender Inclusion, and SDG Alignment in Rural Gujarat: Mixed-Methods Study. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(5), 2083-2098. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.015 Chicago Joshi, Manya. "Sacred Spaces and Sustainable Livelihoods: Examining Temple Micro-Economies, Gender Inclusion, and SDG Alignment in Rural Gujarat: Mixed-Methods Study." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 5 (May 2026), 2083-2098. Accessed May, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.015.
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ABSTRACT: Background: Religious institutions in India function simultaneously as spiritual centres and engines of informal economic activity. Temple-adjacent micro-economies sustain livelihoods for large numbers of vendors, ritual assistants, and service workers, yet remain understudied at the level of individual workers and precinct-level dynamics—particularly regarding gender equity and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methodology/Principal Findings: This study employed a sequential mixed-methods design combining a structured questionnaire survey (N = 56) administered at two temple complexes in Madhavpur, Gujarat—the Madhavrai Trikamrai Mandir and the Rukmini Mandir—with field observation and informal interviews. Survey data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests of association, and bivariate correlation. Key findings include: a majority of respondents (66.1%) worked full-time at the temple precinct, indicating primary rather than supplementary livelihood dependence; monthly income was positively associated with years of tenure (Spearman rho = .392, SD = 1.16, p = .003); 64.3% reported improving income trends while 71.5% confirmed income dependence on festival cycles (skewness = ?1.567); workplace safety perceptions were strongly positive (M = 4.18, SD = 0.77) with no significant gender difference (chi-square(4) = 3.436, p = .488); and women's economic participation was systematically denied by male co-workers (chi-square(3) = 15.909, p = .001). Conclusions/Significance: The study demonstrates that temple precincts constitute viable but precarious livelihood ecosystems aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work), while also revealing structural gender inequalities that impede progress toward SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Gender-responsive governance frameworks, inclusive financial services, and gender-disaggregated livelihood mapping are identified as priority interventions.

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