Tiruchi, October 11 (Daily Kiran) : Visitors to major temples in Tamil Nadu can now carry their mobile phones inside, provided they remain switched off. This change comes after the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department relaxed restrictions that were implemented on September 1, following feedback from devotees.
Under the revised guidelines, photography and video recording within temple premises will still be prohibited. Officials have stated that anyone found violating these rules will face fines.
This adjustment allows worshippers to keep their phones close while maintaining the peaceful atmosphere that is essential for prayer. Key temples affected by this change include the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, the Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram, the Jambukeswarar Temple in Tiruvanaikoil, the Vekkali Amman Temple in Voraiyur, and the Arulmigu Thayumanavar Swamy Temple in Rockfort.
The new regulations aim to alleviate difficulties faced by visitors while still enforcing necessary restrictions to prevent disruptions during worship. For those who prefer to leave their phones outside, facilities for depositing devices remain available. A nominal fee of five rupees per phone applies at the Voraiyur and Tiruvanaikoil temples, while the service is free at Srirangam, Samayapuram, and Rockfort.
These restrictions were initially put in place to avoid disturbances caused by phone usage during prayers and to ensure a respectful environment for all visitors. The revised rules permit the carrying of devices but require that they be turned off while inside the temple.
To help visitors understand these updated guidelines, banners explaining the rules have been displayed at temple entrances. Additionally, announcements regarding the continued ban on photography and video recording are being made via loudspeakers.
Security personnel and temple staff will monitor compliance with these new directives. Visitors are expected to adhere to the instructions posted at the entrances and conveyed through announcements.
Officials have indicated that this relaxation does not remove restrictions that aim to protect the worship experience from disturbances. Previous issues with phone deposit counters, particularly during peak visiting times, have also been addressed. Delays in collecting and returning phones for large crowds had been a concern, as well as the increased workload for staff handling devices from visitors arriving from other states.
Devotees had expressed worries about being unable to contact relatives or respond to emergencies without their phones. The revised policy addresses these concerns while still enforcing the ban on photography and video recording, requiring worshippers to keep their phones switched off while inside the temples.
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