Chennai, Aug 8:In a significant move aimed at preserving the sanctity of temples and regulating visitor conduct, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has announced a complete ban on mobile phones in all major temples across Tamil Nadu from September 1. As part of the mobile phone ban, devotees will be required to deposit their phones at designated counters before entering temples. To facilitate this, temple administrations have been given a 20-day deadline to establish secure mobile phone deposit facilities. A nominal fee of ₹5 per mobile phone has been fixed, and receipts will be issued through the department’s Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS). Notices regarding the mobile phone ban will be prominently displayed at temple entrances and other strategic locations to ensure awareness among devotees.