The annual Hajj pilgrimage resumed after a hiatus of two years due to Covid-19 pandemic and more than 50,000 Indian Muslims are set to take part in it, confirmed Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday.
He also confirmed that Covid-19 protocols set by the Saudi government will be followed by Indian pilgrims throughout the journey while the Indian government has made RT-PCR mandatory for the departing pilgrims.
While speaking to media, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that even without subsidy, Hajj has been made cheaper by the Indian government.
Earlier today, the first batch consisting of 145 Kashmiri pilgrims left for Madina to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage from Srinagar. Around 6,000 people are set to visit Hajj from the valley.
Meanwhile, a total of 20 flights are scheduled to depart from Kochi to Medina with 7,724 passengers from June 4 to June 16. Of this, 5,758 pilgrims are from Kerala and 1966 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman.
Usually one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, about 25 lakh people participated in 2019. But after the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Saudi authorities announced they would only let 1,000 pilgrims take part.
The following year, they increased the total to 60,000 fully vaccinated Saudi citizens and residents chosen through a lottery. Barring overseas pilgrims caused deep disappointment among Muslims worldwide, who typically save for years to take part.
In April 2022, the kingdom announced it would permit 10 lakh Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year’s hajj, which will take place in July.
