SRINAGAR, Apr 18 (Agencies): The first batch of Hajj pilgrims from Kashmir departed for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with authorities operating three flights from the Hajj House, Bemina, carrying 431 pilgrims.
A senior official said the group comprised 230 men and 201 women. The first flight carried 79 men and 66 women, the second 78 men and 65 women, while the third included 73 men and 70 women.
Officials said a total of 4,704 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to travel in 28 flights, with the departure process continuing till May 5.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at the Hajj House as families gathered to see off their relatives. Several elderly pilgrims were seen reciting verses from the Holy Quran while waiting to board buses to the airport, as relatives bid farewell amid emotional embraces.
Executive Officer of the JK Hajj Committee, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, said all arrangements including transportation, baggage handling, medical screening and documentation had been put in place to ensure a smooth departure process.
He said the operation had remained orderly since morning. Pilgrims have been advised to strictly adhere to reporting timings and carry essential documents including passports, visa copies and vaccination cards, while avoiding prohibited items.
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and a mandatory religious duty (the fifth pillar of Islam) for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable, required at least once in their lifetime. Performed from the 8th to 12th/13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, this 5-6 day journey involves sacred rituals like wearing simple white garments (Ihram), circling the Kaaba, standing at Mount Arafat, and symbolic stoning of the devil, which together symbolize unity, devotion, and equality before God.
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