The first batch of Telangana Haj pilgrims left for the pilgrimage from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on Wednesday, amid chants of ‘Talbiyah’.
According to the Telangana State Haj Committee, a total of 150 pilgrims boarded a special Vistara Airlines flight to Jeddah at 10.15 a.m.
The pilgrims set out on their journey with enthusiasm, chanting ‘Talbiyah,’ a special prayer invoked during the Haj.
Earlier, state home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and State Haj Committee chairman Mohammed Saleem flagged off the pilgrim buses at Haj House in the city.
At the Haj House, emotional scenes were witnessed as scores of relatives, friends, and well-wishers bid farewell to the pilgrims.
According to officials, nearly 7,000 pilgrims, including those from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, will depart from Hyderabad this year.
As in previous years, Haj House was converted into a pilgrim embarkation point. The Haj Committee made all of the arrangements, including food and lodging, for the pilgrims who had traveled from various districts throughout Telangana.
Under one roof, various departments provided services such as vaccination, passport distribution, customs clearance, baggage screening, and currency exchange. At Haj House, pilgrims were also given boarding passes.
Pilgrims from Telangana and neighboring states were also arriving at Haj House to continue their journey. The Haj camp, which started on June 5, will last 18 days.
Vistara Airlines will operate 46 Haj flights from Hyderabad through June 22. From June 8, three Haj flights will be operated daily.
Telangana had 3,016 pilgrims perform Haj last year. Approximately 80,000 Indian pilgrims will perform Haj. After a two-year hiatus, pilgrims from India performed Haj. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia did not allow pilgrims from other countries in 2020 and 2021.
The Haj quota for 2022 had been reduced in light of the Covid protocol. However, the Saudi authorities have restored the pre-Covid quota this year. This year, approximately 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims will perform Haj.
This year’s Haj pilgrimage will begin on June 25 and end on June 30, corresponding to the 10th of Dhulhijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The final date will be determined by the sighting of the Dhulhijjah new moon.
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