Ban on smartphones in Tamil Nadu temples comes into effect; phones without cameras to be allowed

Mobile phone deposit counter has been set up at Arunachaleshwarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai as the ban on the use of smartphones in 52 major temples across Tamil Nadu that are managed by the HR&CE Department comes into force on September 1, 2026 | Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy The ban on the use of mobile phones inside the premises of 52 major temples across Tamil Nadu came into effect on Tuesday (September 1, 2026). Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Ramesh, in a statement, clarified that ordinary mobile phones without cameras would be allowed inside the temples. Restrictions have been imposed on devotees carrying and using smartphones inside these 52 temples from September 1 based on the existing court directions and with the objective of ensuring a peaceful and serene atmosphere for devotees to worship, Mr. Ramesh said in a statement on Tuesday. Mobile phones are already prohibited in Palani, Tiruchendur, Madurai and Rameswaram temples, he noted.Mr. Ramesh stated that this restriction has been introduced as incidents of devotees and visitors taking photographs and recording videos of the deities and idols inside the temples have been on the rise.₹5 charged at phone deposit countersMaking arrangements to implement the ban, the HR&CE department has set up locker facilities at the entrance of these temples for the safe keeping of mobiles. Devotees would have to deposit the mobile phones by paying ₹5 as fee and collect a plastic token issued by the staff. The phones will be returned upon production of the token and after the employees check the mobile numbers. — The Hindu - Chennai (@THChennai) September 1, 2026A devotee, who visits the Vadapalani Andavar temple in the city, said that the rule was cumbersome especially for people who are local residents. “If I go daily, I cannot pay ₹5 daily to keep my phone safely. I think devotees should be told to switch off phones and carry them in their bags. These days, phones are much more than devices to make calls,” she said. A temple staffer said that this was a huge responsibility as mobile phones are costly and one mistake would cause lot of problems to people. “We would have to carry the responsibility and the resultant stress. Mobiles are not like footwear. Sometimes, even footwear gets mixed up, especially during festivals,” he said. Published - September 01, 2026 06:06 pm IST