Temples and other places of worship in Maharashtra - closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic - will re-open soon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Sunday, as he offered Diwali greetings to the state. He said SOPs to minimise transmission of the virus could be released after Diwali, which falls on November 14. Mr Thackeray also confirmed that schools were set to resume (for Classes 9 to 12) after Diwali, with safety protocols already in place for this.