Smart glasses breach Kashi Vishwanath’s no-camera rule, visitor films sanctum sanctorum

The incident came to light after an undated video surfaced on social media, purportedly showing the visitor offering milk to the deity inside the sanctum while using smart glasses. The video also purportedly showed him taking selfies at different places, including outside the sanctum and elsewhere on the temple premises. The visitor later deleted the video from his social media account after the matter was reported on social media and television news channels.

Despite strict restrictions on carrying mobile phones, cameras, pens and other prohibited items inside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a visitor allegedly entered the sanctum sanctorum wearing camera-equipped smart glasses and recorded videos and pictures, including while performing ‘Abhishek’, a ritual offering of water or milk to the deity.

Kashi Vishwanath temple administration directs police to tighten entry checks and stop visitors carrying smart glasses and other camera-equipped devices. (Sourced)

The incident came to light after an undated video surfaced on social media, purportedly showing the visitor offering milk to the deity inside the sanctum while using smart glasses. The video also purportedly showed him taking selfies at different places, including outside the sanctum and elsewhere on the temple premises. The visitor later deleted the video from his social media account after the matter was reported on social media and television news channels.

Smartglasses are wearable computer glasses that add digital features such as audio, cameras or visual displays to regular frames. In this case, the device allegedly allowed the visitor to record inside the temple despite restrictions on cameras and mobile phones.

Taking the matter seriously, the Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple administration has asked police to strengthen checking at the entry points and sensitise personnel about smart glasses and other camera-equipped devices.

He said police personnel deployed at the temple gates had also been instructed to check for smart glasses and stop visitors carrying such devices from entering the temple. They would be asked to leave the smart glasses outside before proceeding inside.

Smart glasses are wearable devices that can incorporate features such as cameras, audio systems and visual displays into conventional spectacle frames.

The temple administration said enhanced checks had been ordered to prevent similar incidents in the future.