Mobile phones to be banned in Tamil Nadu’s major temples from September 1: Minister Ramesh
The Tamil Nadu government has announced a ban on mobile phones inside major temples starting September 1, 2026. The move aims to prevent unauthorized filming of sanctum sanctorums and improve the management of temple properties.
Why it matters
This policy reflects a growing tension between modern technology usage and the preservation of religious sanctity in public spaces.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) S. Ramesh on Sunday (August 9, 2026) said the use of mobile phones inside the premises of major temples across the State is to be prohibited from September 1.
Speaking to journalists at Srirangam in Tiruchi, he said dedicated counters for depositing mobile phones would be established in major temples by September 1 to implement the ban, the Minister said. This move comes in the wake of video clips of the sanctum sanctorum of many temples being filmed with mobile phones and widely circulated on social media, he said.
Further, he said the department was keen on retrieving temple properties and ensuring compliance with the purposes for which they have been allocated.
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