Chennai, Aug 8:
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has announced a complete ban on carrying mobile phones inside temples under its control, effective from September 1, 2026.
The department stated that in recent times, some devotees have been taking photos, recording videos, clicking selfies, and creating social media reels inside temple premises, affecting the sanctity of temples and causing inconvenience to other devotees.
To address this, temple administrations have been instructed to set up secure mobile phone storage facilities before entry. These counters should be located near temple entrances or footwear stands wherever possible.
A standard fee of Rs. 5 per mobile phone will be charged for storage, and receipts must be issued through the ITMS system.
The HR&CE emphasized that this measure is intended to preserve the spiritual environment of temples and ensure that devotees can have a peaceful darshan without disturbances.