Mobile phones to be banned at major temples in Tamil Nadu: Minister S Ramesh
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), S Ramesh said that the use of mobile phones inside temples across the state would be banned from September 1 onwards. He said that arrangements would be made right outside the temple or within the temple premises itself, so that devotees can leave their phone there.
Talking to reporters at Srirangam in Tiruchi, the Minister said that dedicated counters for depositing phones would be established in all major temples in the state. This would thus help in implementing the ‘No Phones’ rule effectively by September 1.
The order was passed after several video clips of the sanctum sanctorum of many temples began circulating online. The videos were filmed using mobile phones and were uploaded on several social media websites.
A report in Telangana Today claimed that the temples would be charging Rs 5 per mobile phone to keep the device of the devotees safe, while they offer prayers at the temple. Apart from banning mobiles inside temples, the HR&CE Department has also tightened regulations for visits by political leaders, film personalities and other prominent personalities. The temple administration has been instructed to ensure that such visits does not interfere with darshan to ordinary people or inconvenience any devotee.
Under the new rules, the temple administration must inform the HR&CE Commissioner, a day before any scheduled visit of a celebrity. They need to tell the officer the date and time of the visit and also the number of people expected to accompany the visitor.
In case the visit of any VIP is planned at a short notice, the temple management has been asked to notify the department immediately. The order says that the management must ensure that the visit does not cause any inconvenience to other common visitors at the temple. Even during VIP visits, videography and photography will not be permitted inside temples.
The mobile phone ban is also meant to ensure that devotees do not make reels for social media inside temples.