Phone ban in Tamil Nadu pushes youth away from temples: Devotees drop by 20%; Mobile phones banned in 52 temples from September 1

The scene has changed after the ban on mobile phones was imposed at the Devarajaswamy Athi Varadaraja Temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Near the flag post, where earlier young people were seen taking selfies, now mostly elderly devotees are seen. There was a long queue at the mobile deposit counter on the first day, but now there is also a higher number of middle-aged and elderly people. This indicates that many youngsters are reducing the number of people coming to the temple. This situation is not only of the Varadaraja temple. A similar effect is being seen in many big temples of the state. According to the temple administration, the daily number has come down by up to 20% after the rule was implemented. This decline is being seen most among the youth, who earlier used to come for darshan as well as photos, videos and social media content. In fact, a ban on mobile phones has been imposed in 52 major temples in Tamil Nadu from September 1. Before entering the temple, the smartphone will have to be deposited at the counter. For this, a charge of Rs 5 will have to be paid on each phone. The temple administration said, "The Madras High Court has imposed the ban, we are only enforcing it. Ganesan acknowledged the decline in the number of devotees, but supported the decision. He said that the shortage of devotees in the temples is mainly among the youth. We are sorry, but the sanctity of the temple cannot be reduced for Instagram. This ban is under the order of the Madras High Court of December 2022, we are only enforcing it. The Madras High Court had in December 2022 directed such a ban following a PIL related to the misuse of smartphones in the Tiruchendur Subramanian Swamy Temple. The youth said - the experience is incomplete without a phone 1. Arun Kumar, a 23-year-old from Chennai, reached the temple parking lot with three of his friends, but did not go inside as soon as he knew the rules of depositing the phone. He said, "I respect the temple and tradition, but the truth is that people like us do not come here just for darshan. We capture the architecture, customs, atmosphere and share it on social media. That experience feels incomplete without a phone. If I pay Rs 5 to lock the phone and then I can't record anything, then I will go to the local temple where the rules are not so strict. 2. 19-year-old Priya Rajesh of Vellore also came with her family, but stopped outside after seeing the counter. She said, "Grandpa and Varadraj had come for darshan, but I couldn't take the phone inside, so I would sit outside. It is not right to stand in a queue, give money and leave my expensive phone with strangers. And to be honest, what is the point of coming if I can't see such a beautiful temple and take photos? I came here only after seeing the reels on Instagram, now I can't make a single reel myself. It seems that the government is punishing the modern youth. --------------------------- also read this news... Chennai: People breached the security of CM Vijay and reached the convoy, demanding justice in the case of the death of a youth in police custody Chief Minister C. A case has come to light that some people broke the security of Joseph Vijay and reached his convoy. According to the police, 8 people, including a couple, tried to stop the convoy near the secretariat and submit an application.