SHAFAQNA-Iqna: The first group of Indian Hajj pilgrims left the country for Medina, Saudi Arabia, On Saturday.
They departed the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after a see-off ceremony attended by Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Another batch of 304 pilgrims started their journey on two flights from an airport in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
This year’s first Hajj flight from India, arrived on Thursday at the international airport in Medina, carrying 419 pilgrims.
Around 140,000 Indian Muslims are expected to perform Hajj this year. About 63,000 should arrive in Medina by July 21, with the remaining 77,000 landing in Jeddah between July 20 and August 5. Hajj is tentatively scheduled to take place between August 8 and 14.
Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that every able-bodied and financially able Muslim is obliged to undertake at least once during their lifetime.
It is regarded as one of the pillars of Islam and the largest act of mass pilgrimage in the world.
The holy pilgrimage is also a demonstration of Muslims’ unity and their submission to Allah.
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