Tamil Nadu, Oct 14: The state government has brought welcome news for devotees visiting famous temples in Tamil Nadu. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has issued a key order relaxing the total ban on carrying mobile phones inside temples. Under the new rule, devotees are now permitted to carry their mobile phones into the temple premises, provided the devices are switched off.
Ban Previously in Force at 52 Major Temples:
To preserve the sanctity of the temples and prevent disturbances during worship, a complete ban on mobile phone usage had been imposed at 52 major pilgrimage sites across the state starting September 1, 2026. This list included renowned religious sites such as the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Palani Dandayudhapani Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur Subramanya Swamy Temple, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, and Tiruttani Subramanya Swamy Temple.
Major Inconvenience at Mobile Deposit Counters:
Due to the mobile phone ban, counters were set up outside temples to safely store devotees’ phones for a fee of Rs.5 per device. However, a situation arose where devotees had to wait in queues for hours to retrieve their phones after completing their *darshan*. This caused significant hardship for small children and senior citizens. There was widespread demand from devotees to resolve these issues.
New Rules: Mandatory Phone Switch-Off and Strict Ban on Photography:
Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the public, officials have now relaxed the rules. Under the new regulations, devotees may carry their phones with them, but they must switch them off before entering the sanctum sanctorum or the temple premises.
Furthermore, while permission has been granted to carry mobile phones, the ban on taking photographs, recording videos, and capturing selfies or ‘Reels’ inside the temple remains in effect. Officials have warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who violates these rules by taking photos or videos.