Record number of Haj Pilgrims from India this year- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Shri Naqvi said that a total of 3,55,604 applications had been received for Haj 2018 which included 1,89,217 male and 1,66,387 female applicants. For the first time Muslim women from India are also going to Haj without “Mehram” (male companion). A total of 1308 women are going to Haj this year without “Mehram”.

For the first time, choice of embarkation points has been given to Haj pilgrims which has received overwhelming response.

Shri Naqvi said that for the first time after the Independence, record 1,75,025 Muslims from India are going to Haj this year. These include record more than 47 per cent female pilgrims.

Shri Naqvi said that despite of removal of Haj subsidy and various new taxes imposed in Saudi Arabia; for the first time after the Independence a record number of Muslims from India are going to Haj this year that too without any additional financial burden.

Shri Naqvi said that for the first time such a large number of women Haj Coordinators, Haj Assistants and Khadim Ul Hujjaj, doctors and para-medics have been deployed in Saudi Arabia. A total of 98 female Assistant Haj Officers, Haj Assistants Haj Coordinators, doctors and para-medics have been deployed to assist Haj pilgrims.

Representatives from Minority Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry and Urban Development Ministry informed in detail, various issues concerned to Haj, pilgrims, their health, safety and accommodation etc., during the Orientation cum Training camp

Shri Naqvi said that a total of 6700 pilgrims will go from Ahmedabad, 350 from Aurangabad, 5550 from Bengaluru, 254 from Bhopal, 11,700 from Cochin, 4000 from Chennai, 19,000 from Delhi, 5140 from Gaya, 450 from Goa, 2950 from Guwahati, 7600 from Hyderabad, 5500 from Jaipur, 11,610 from Kolkata, 14,500 from Lucknow, 430 from Mangalore, 14,200 from Mumbai, 2800 from Nagpur, 2100 from Ranchi, 8950 from Srinagar and 3250 from Varanasi.

Flights for Haj will start from 14^th July, 2018. On 14^th July, pilgrims from Delhi, Gaya, Guwahati, Lucknow and Srinagar will go for Haj; on 17^th July pilgrims from Kolkata; on 20^th July pilgrims from Varanasi; on 21^stJuly pilgrims from Mangalore; on 26^th July pilgrims from Goa; on 29^th July pilgrims from Aurangabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Nagpur; on 30^th July pilgrims from Ranchi; on 01^stAugust pilgrims from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Hyderabad and Jaipur and on 03^rd August, pilgrims from Bhopal will go for Haj.