Haj pilgrims given send-off

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 23: The North East Haj Pilgrims’ Reception Committee on Sunday formally gave pilgrims bound for Mecca a send-off at Haji Mushafirkha at Islampur in the city.

A total of 4,472 pilgrims from five Northeastern states are set to go to Saudi Arabia for Haj this year under the guidance of Joint State Haj Committee and Northeast Hajj Reception Committee. The number of Haj pilgrims has come down this year compared to last year when as many as 4611 pilgrims went to Saudi Arabia.

Chief patron and chief guest at the send-off function Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal said: “I’m glad to know that 4,472 pilgrims are set to leave for Mecca from the north-eastern States. Haj is the most powerful and unifying force in Islam. It’s a grand manifestation of Muslim brotherhood without social and tiol boundaries. I hope the Haj strengthens universal camaraderie besides leading to the spiritual purification of the Hajis. I convey my best wishes to the reception committee.”

The function presided over by Joint Haj Committee chairman Nekibur Zaman in the presence of BTC chief Hagrama Moholary, minister Rihon Daimary, Minority Development Board chairman Mominul Aowal and others.

The first batch of pilgrims will leave Guwahati for Madi at 5.40 pm and the second one to leave at 11.30 pm on Monday. Two flights with Haj pilgrims will leave every day from Guwahati till July 31. Each flight will have 300 pilgrims.

For the first time the state government has appointed 21 ‘Khadem-Ul-Hojja’ (officials) to take care of the pilgrims of the State. They will be monitoring all the process and will provide all kind of assistance.

A total of 612 pilgrims have been selected under green category and 1360 pilgrims have been selected under Aziziya category. This categorization has been done through a (qurrah) lottery. The pilgrims are supposed to start returing from Zeddah from September 6 to 17.