HR&CE dept. issues protocols for VIP visits to temples
The HR&CE Department in India has issued new protocols for VIP temple visits, banning photography and video recording inside premises to maintain sanctity. The move aims to balance the needs of high-profile visitors with the experience of regular devotees and crowd management.
Why it matters
It addresses the tension between celebrity culture, religious tradition, and equitable access to public religious spaces.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has issued guidelines for the visit of famous personalities, including those from the film industry to temples.
One of the major instructions issued as part of the circular signed by Commissioner T.G. Vinay is that photographs and videos should not be allowed to be taken inside temples. “In recent days, a few incidents wherein videos and reels of VIPs have been taken inside temple premises have occurred. The department wants to keep such instances in check” explained an official source.
If the temple gets advance notice of the visit of such persons, the administration should inform the Commissioner’s office. “Their entry/exit should be regulated in such a manner that the darshan of other devotees should not be affected,” the circular said.
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