Pictures: Religious places across Maharashtra reopen after months of COVID closure

Religious places across Maharashtra are reopening for devotees to offer prayers from Monday after several months of closure due to the lockdown imposed in a bid to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Muslim devotees pray at a shrine in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office (CMO) had on Saturday informed that all religious places including temples, shrines, churches, dargahs, etc in the state will be allowed to reopen for devotees from November 16.

Christian devotees pray at church in Mumbai. The gates of the places of worship were opened after midnight for the management officials to clean and sanitise the premises ahead of its reopening for devotees to offer early morning prayers.

A priest cleans deities in a temple in Mumbai. Notably, the prominent religious places across the state including Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, the Mahim Dargah in Mumbai and the Dagdusheth Halwai Temple in Pune have been prepared for their reopening to the devotees.

Christian devotees pray at church in Mumbai.

A devotee offer prayers at Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

A Muslim devotee prays at a shrine in Mumbai.

A priest anoints an altar and deities with sandalwood paste in a temple in Mumbai.

Police officers along with devotees offer prayers at the shrine of Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, an ancient Muslim scholar and saint in Mumbai.

A devotee offers prayers at a church in Mumbai.

Muslim devotees pray at a shrine in Mumbai.

Hindu devotees pray inside a temple in Mumbai.

Christian devotees pray at church in Mumbai.

A man offers prayers at the shrine of Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, an ancient Muslim scholar and saint in Mumbai.

Hindu devotees seek blessings from a priest in a temple in Mumbai.

Hindu devotees pray at a shrine temple in Mumbai.