The first group of 431 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir set off for the annual Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Among them were 230 men and 201 women who departed in three flights from Srinagar International Airport. The Haj House in Bemina, Srinagar, facilitated all necessary arrangements including foreign exchange, documentation, and baggage handling.
This year, a total of 4,764 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are expected to undertake the sacred Haj pilgrimage. Haj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, mandates that every capable adult Muslim must visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage commences on the seventh day of Dhu-al-Ḥijjah and concludes on the 12th day.
The obligation of Haj falls on physically and financially able Muslims, provided their absence does not cause hardship to their families. In some cases, individuals can appoint a proxy, typically a family member or friend, to perform the pilgrimage on their behalf. While the pilgrimage rites were established by Prophet Muhammad, variations have emerged over time, with many pilgrims deviating from the formal itinerary to visit Mecca’s sites in a different order.
