New Delhi: The first batch of Hajj pilgrims from northern India departed for the sacred journey on Tuesday night from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The pilgrims boarded Saudi Airlines flight SV-3079 bound for Madinah at 8 PM. The departure was marked by a farewell ceremony organized at Terminal 3 by the Delhi State Hajj Committee, where Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju personally bid farewell to the pilgrims by offering garlands and blessings, reported the Dawat News.
Also present at the event were Delhi State Hajj Committee Chairperson Kausar Jahan, Saudi Embassy representative in India Jady Nayef Al-Raqas, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, C.P.S. Bakshi.
Addressing the gathering, Chairperson Kausar Jahan welcomed the Union Minister and congratulated the pilgrims. Minister Rijiju conveyed best wishes for a peaceful and successful Hajj on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, himself, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Providing details about the journey, Delhi State Hajj Committee’s Executive Officer Ashfaq Ahmad Arfi stated that the Hajj flights will continue from April 30 to May 30. The first flight carried 399 pilgrims accompanied by two state Hajj inspectors. Pilgrims will stay in Madinah for eight days before proceeding to Makkah, and their return will be from Jeddah.
According to Arfi, unlike previous years, this year’s Hajj flights from Delhi are scheduled in two phases. From April 30 to May 15, all flights will land in Madinah, while from May 16 to May 30, they will depart for Jeddah. A total of 16,000 pilgrims are expected to travel from the Delhi embarkation point through 38 Saudi Airlines flights.
To accommodate pilgrims arriving from other regions, the Delhi State Hajj Committee has set up an air-conditioned Hajj camp at Ram Lila Maidan. Air-conditioned buses have also been arranged for transportation to the airport. At the committee’s office “Hajj Manzil” at Turkman Gate, various banks and currency exchange counters have been set up to facilitate the provision of Saudi Riyals at reasonable rates for the pilgrims.
