Camera Phone Ban at 52 Major Temples Draws Mixed Devotee Reactions

A restriction on carrying mobile phones equipped with cameras into 52 major temples across the state came into effect on Tuesday, drawing mixed reactions from worshippers across Chennai, including those visiting temples in Mylapore.

The ban, introduced by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, was initiated following repeated instances of devotees and visitors taking photographs and recording videos of deities and idols inside the premises. Department authorities enforced the measure to help preserve the serenity and sanctity of the temples.

Under the new system, the HR&CE department has made arrangements for devotees to deposit their camera-enabled phones in secure lockers and collect them after completing their darshan. Mobile phones without cameras continue to be permitted inside the temple complexes.

While many worshippers welcomed the move to curb distractions and safeguard temple sanctity, others raised practical concerns. Devotees pointed to the potential buildup of long queues at deposit counters, questions over the security and safe storage of expensive devices, and the general difficulty of being separated from their phones, particularly at crowded locations.

On Tuesday, the rollout led to tense moments at some temples, with a few devotees arguing with authorities over the restriction. Addressing the initial friction, an HR&CE official noted that some visitors expressed anger, but staff clarified that non-camera phones remained allowed. The official stated that while minor issues were expected in the initial days, devotees would adapt to the system soon.

V N Sainath from Avadi, who recently visited temples in Mylapore, Triplicane, and Kancheepuram, welcomed the decision to protect the temple atmosphere but noted lingering concerns regarding the security of deposited devices and how carefully temple staff handle the stored phones.