Maharashtra: All religious places allowed to reopen from November 16

Extending Diwali greetings to people, Thackeray said, "We can't forget that the demon coronavirus is still amongst us. Even though this demon is slowly falling silent now, we cannot be complacent."

Though all religious places had to remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, God—in the forms of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff—had been taking care of all the devotees, he said.

Announcing that all places of worship would be reopened on Diwali Padwa (Monday), Thackeray said crowding must be avoided at all costs, adding, "If we follow discipline, we will get God's blessings."

"The reopening of religious places is not a government order, but the wish of the Almighty. Shoes will have to be kept outside the premises and wearing masks is mandatory," he added.

Welcoming the government's decision, Maharashtra's Cabinet Minister of the Water Resources Department, Jayant Patil, said, "The decision has come at the right time when the number of corona patients is low (sic)."

"The rules will be the same for all the religious places. The use of masks, sanitizers would be mandatory. Social distancing is very important," he added.

The development comes a month after Maharashtra Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and CM Thackeray exchanged letters over reopening religious places.

In October, Koshyari requested Thackeray to "announce forthwith the reopening of the places of worship with all necessary COVID-19 precautions."

BJP, the opposition party in Maharashtra, had also repeatedly targeted Thackeray for keeping religious places closed even when the "Unlock" process began in June.