Tamil Nadu temple mobile ban: Vijay govt restricts phone entry at 50+ temples, Rs 5 to be charged for deposit

Devotees visiting major temples in Tamil Nadu will no longer be allowed to carry their mobile phones inside temple premises from September 1, as part of a new move to preserve the sanctity of religious spaces and curb photography and social-media content.

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The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has instructed temple authorities to set up designated counters where devotees can deposit their phones before entering. The devices will be kept in safe custody and returned after darshan.

₹5 fee for depositing mobile phones

Devotees depositing a mobile phone will have to pay ₹5 per device. Temple authorities will issue a receipt for the deposited phone. The department has asked temples to put employees or volunteers in charge of the counters. They will have to maintain proper records of the phones received and handed back to devotees.The arrangement is intended to ensure that devotees can retrieve their phones without confusion or delay.

Tamil Nadu Temples Mobile Ban List

District	Temple
Chennai	Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
	Vadapalani Andavar Temple
	Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Triplicane
	Vadivudai Amman Temple, Tiruvottiyur
	Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Tiruvottiyur
Tiruvallur	Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu
	Bhavani Amman Temple, Periyapalayam
	Veeraraghava Temple, Tiruvallur
	Subramania Swamy Temple, Tiruttani
Kancheepuram	Murugan Temple, Kundrathur
	Kamakshi Amman Temple, Mangadu
	Subramania Swamy Temple, Vallakottai
	Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
	Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
	Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
Madurai	Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
	Subramania Swamy Temple, Tirupparankundram
	Kallalagar Temple, Alagarkoil
Dindigul	Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani
Thoothukudi	Subramania Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
Tiruvannamalai	Arunachaleswarar Temple
Tiruchirappalli	Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram
	Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
Tirunelveli	Nellaiappar Temple
Kanyakumari	Thanumalayan Swamy Temple, Suchindram
Coimbatore	Koni Amman Temple
	Marudamalai Subramaniyaswamy Temple
Salem	Kottai Mariamman Temple
Ramanathapuram	Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
Tenkasi	Tirumalai Kumaraswamy Temple, Panpoli
	Tirukutralanathar Temple, Courtallam
Erode	Bannari Mariamman Temple, Sathyamangalam
	Sangameswarar Temple, Bhavani
Ranipet	Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Sholinghur
Thanjavur	Brihadeeswarar/Peruvudaiyar Temple
Cuddalore	Sathya Gnana Sabha–Vallalar Deiva Nilayam, Vadalur

No photography, videography or reels inside temples

The decision comes amid concerns over the increasing use of mobile phones inside temple premises for taking photographs, recording videos and making social-media reels. Temple staff have been directed to stop unauthorised photography and videography. The restrictions will also apply when VIPs and other dignitaries visit temples.

However, photography or videography involving VIPs and dignitaries can be allowed if prior permission has been obtained. The department's focus is not limited to mobile phones. Temple authorities have also been told to ensure that unauthorised recording does not take place inside the premises.

Tamil Nadu temples may get new queue systems

The mobile phone restriction was among several issues discussed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

During question hour on Monday, HR&CE minister C Ramesh said the government is examining queue management systems for major temples. The aim is to make the movement of devotees smoother, particularly at temples that witness large crowds.

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The government is also considering changes to entry and exit routes at major temples. Better crowd movement, the minister said, would help devotees get darshan without unnecessary obstruction.

Preparations begin for 2028 Mahamaham

The state has also started preparations for the 2028 Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam. According to the minister, a review meeting has already been conducted through the district collector, with officials from different government departments taking part.

The preparations are expected to involve coordination among various departments as the festival draws large numbers of devotees to Kumbakonam.

For now, the immediate change for visitors to major temples is the mobile phone rule. From September 1, devotees will need to leave their phones at designated counters before proceeding inside.