Selfies, photography barred at Golden Temple

Selfies, photography and videography have been prohibited within the premises of sacred Golden Temple in Amritsar in Punjab.

The Golden temple is among the top places in the world visited by people to pay obeisance.

Caution notices have been put up inside the premises to dissuade worshipers to take photographs and videos.

The notice communicated in Punjabi, English and Hindi says that photography and videography in the precincts of the Golden Temple is prohibited.

The decision was taken by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body managing the majority of the prominent Sikh shrine in the country, has not down well with devotees.

The SGPC argues that the decision has been taken to avoid ‘distractions’ and maintain the sanctity of the sacred premises.

The shrine is visited by hordes of foreign dignitaries who take back memories of their visit in the form of pictures of the pious Golden temple. SGPC officials maintain that a large section of people posing for selfies in different postures and styles in the backdrop of the revered Golden temple appears improper at times amid the overpowering spiritual setting that one is in.

It’s not clear if the SGPC has imposed any such restriction on photojournalists who cover visiting dignitaries and events of political significance inside the premises. Photography and videography are already banned inside the sanctum sanctorum.