Mobile Phones to Be Banned Inside Major Tamil Nadu Temples from September 1

Devotees visiting major temples across Tamil Nadu will not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside temple premises from September 1, following fresh directions from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

The department has also instructed temples to strictly prevent photography, video recording, selfies, reels and other social media content inside temple premises. Permission should not be granted for taking photographs or videos of VIPs, public figures or film personalities inside temples.

Mobile Phone Deposit Facility at Temple Entrances

To help devotees comply with the new rule, temple authorities have been directed to establish secure mobile phone storage facilities at temple entrances. A uniform fee of ₹5 per mobile phone may be collected, and devotees must be provided a receipt through the Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS).

The latest instructions follow an order issued by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on December 2, 2022. Earlier HR&CE circulars had also directed temples to restrict the use of mobile phones and provide safe storage facilities for devotees.

The department said that despite these instructions, some devotees continue to use mobile phones inside temples to take photographs, shoot videos, selfies and reels for social media.

According to the department, such activities can disturb the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere of temples and cause inconvenience to other devotees.

Temple authorities have therefore been asked to display clear signboards at entrances and other prominent locations informing devotees about the mobile phone restriction. The ban should also be announced through the temples` public address systems.