Pune: Maharashtra government on Saturday decided to reopen all religious places in the state from Monday. The state government declared that the temples will be reopened on Balipratipada (the fourth day of Diwali).

The devotees will follow all necessary COVID-19 protocols. Uddhav Thackeray said that although all places of worship were closed from months, the frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff have helped us in the form of God.

He further said that the government has now decided to reopen all religious places of worship from Monday but the key is to avoid crowding at these places. One must follow all protocols of COVID-19.

Though religious places were allowed to reopen by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from June, the state government was reluctant in reopening them amid the surge of COVID-19 cases.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in his address to state said that the government will soon reopen places of worship around the state after Diwali. The CM also urged people to avoid burning fire crackers and continue wearing masks during the Diwali festival.

Opposition party BJP has been demanding the reopening of worship places in the state that have been shut since March as COVID-19 lockdown came into force.