Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Aug 8: Mobile phones will be completely prohibited in all major temples across Tamil Nadu from September 1, as the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department introduces a fresh set of measures to preserve the sanctity of places of worship and prevent unauthorised photography and videography.
The department has also tightened guidelines for visits by actors, actresses, political leaders and other prominent personalities, directing temple administrations to ensure that such visits do not inconvenience ordinary devotees or disrupt regular darshan.
The directives were issued following instructions from HR&CE Minister Ramesh.
Under the revised protocol, temple authorities must inform HR&CE Commissioner Vinay at least a day in advance about any scheduled visit by a VIP or prominent personality. The communication must include the date and time of the visit and the number of people expected to accompany the visitor.
For visits planned at short notice, officials have been directed to immediately inform the department and make necessary arrangements without affecting the normal movement of devotees.
Photography and videography will not be allowed inside temple premises during VIP visits. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that arrangements for prominent visitors neither affect the sanctity of temples nor restrict access for other worshippers.
The mobile-phone ban is aimed at preventing visitors from photographing or filming deities and sanctum sanctorums, as well as creating reels and other videos inside temple complexes.
The HR&CE Department said the restrictions are being implemented in accordance with existing court directions and instructions from the Minister.
Temple administrations have been given 20 days to establish secure facilities for devotees to deposit their mobile phones before entering the temples. Notices explaining the restriction must be prominently displayed at entrances and other key locations.
Devotees will have to hand over their phones at designated counters and collect them after completing darshan. A fee of Rs 5 will be charged for each phone deposited, with receipts generated through the department's Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS).
Volunteers or designated personnel will operate the deposit counters, while CCTV cameras will monitor the facilities to ensure the security of the deposited devices.
HR&CE officials have also been directed to take appropriate action against anyone engaging in unauthorised photography or videography and strictly enforce the new regulations across major temples.