A ban on smartphone use has come into effect at 52 major temples in Tamil Nadu. Under the new rules, devotees carrying camera-enabled mobile phones must deposit them at designated counters before entering the temple premises and pay a fee of ₹5 per phone. Mobile phones without cameras will be permitted inside the temple premises.
The arrangement came into effect on Tuesday. Temple administrations have been instructed to inform devotees about the rules through boards, notices and loudspeakers at the entrances. The rules apply to ordinary devotees as well as VIPs, celebrities and other special visitors.
Under the new rules, taking photographs, recording videos and making social media reels inside temple premises will be prohibited. Devotees will not be permitted to photograph deities or record religious rituals and programmes associated with worship.
The government has said the decision is aimed at maintaining the religious dignity, sanctity and peaceful environment of temples. Complaints have been raised over the increasing use of mobile phones in temples affecting devotees' concentration and religious activities.
Particular concern had been expressed over young people taking selfies, recording videos and making social media reels on temple premises. Following the new directives, temple administrations have been assigned responsibility for monitoring such activities.
The new rules do not provide any separate exemption for VIPs or celebrities. Photography or video recording of any VIP, celebrity or other prominent person inside the temple premises will not be permitted.
This means a uniform system governing the use of mobile phones and cameras will apply to all devotees visiting the temples. Temple administrations have been instructed to ensure compliance and not provide special exemptions to any individual.
Camera-enabled smartphones cannot be taken inside the temples. Devotees must deposit their phones at designated counters before entering, for which a fee of ₹5 per phone has been fixed.
Employees are being deployed at the temples to manage the process of depositing and collecting phones. The administration aims to ensure that the entry process is not disrupted by phone deposits despite the arrival of large numbers of devotees.
At the Devarajaswami-Athi Varadar Temple in Kanchipuram, the arrangement began at 6 am on Tuesday. Two computer operators and two other employees have been deployed there to manage the mobile phone deposit process.
The Tamil Nadu government's move is linked to an earlier order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. On December 2, 2022, the court heard a public interest litigation concerning a ban on smartphone use at the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur.
The court had issued directions concerning regulation of mobile phone use on temple premises and arrangements for safely keeping devotees' phones. The HR&CE department has now taken steps to implement the arrangement across 52 major temples in the state.
The government has said the rules are being implemented in accordance with the court's directions to maintain a religious environment in temples.
Temple administrations have been directed to provide information at multiple levels to prevent confusion among devotees. Clear boards regarding the restriction on mobile phone use will be installed at temple entrances and outside the premises.
Devotees will also be informed about the rules through loudspeakers. This will enable people to know before entering the temple where camera-enabled mobile phones have to be deposited and how much the fee will be.
The administration expects that providing information in advance will allow the phone deposit process to be completed more smoothly.
The HR&CE department has imposed restrictions not only on selfies and reels but also on the recording of religious rituals, worship and photographs or videos of deities inside temple premises.
The measure has been justified on the grounds of maintaining the dignity of religious traditions and private worship activities at temples. The administration wants devotees to focus on religious activities and darshan rather than creating social media content inside the temples.
The implementation of such rules will require devotees visiting the temples to go through an additional phone-deposit process. The change is particularly relevant for people who depend on smartphones for digital payments, online tickets or communication.
Under the new arrangement, devotees carrying camera-enabled smartphones must deposit their phones at designated counters outside the temple premises. A facility will be provided for keeping the phones safely, and a fee of ₹5 per phone will be charged.
Mobile phones without cameras will continue to be permitted inside the temples. At the same time, selfies, videos, reels and recordings of religious programmes will be prohibited on temple premises. Compliance with the rules will be mandatory for everyone, including VIPs and celebrities.
The smartphone restrictions at Tamil Nadu temples could also lead to discussion about the balance between digital activities and personal faith at religious sites. For now, the government's focus is on effective implementation of the rules and maintaining the religious environment of the temples.
