No More Selfies At Golden Temple: SGPC Bars Photography, Videography To Avoid Distractions, Preserve Sanctity

The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body managing majority of the Sikh shrines in the country, has prohibited selfies, photography and videography in the premises of the sacred Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, reports Deccan Herald.

According to the report, caution notices, written in Punjabi, English and Hindi, have been put up in the premises, that state taking pictures and videos is prohibited.

SGPC said that the decision has been taken to avoid any distractions and to preserve the sanctity of the temple.

Officials of the SGPC said that taking selfies in different postures and style with the temple in the backdrop appears improper at certain times and disrupts the spiritual spirit that a devotee is in.

The Golden temple is among the top places in the world visited by people to pay obeisance. It is also one of the biggest tourist destinations for people from other states as well as foreigners. Many foreign dignitaries visit the temple and take back the shrine’s memories in the form of pictures.

It has not been made clear whether this rule applies to journalists who are often there to cover dignitaries’ visit and events of political significance inside the shrine’s premises.