Karipur: Two years after surviving the devastation of the plague, Indian pilgrims return to the holy land. The first Hajj delegation from India will leave Kochi on Saturday at 9 am. This time the first flight from India was from Kerala. The 377 pilgrims arrived at the Hajj camp on Thursday morning. Their travel documents and Saudi riyals will be distributed at the Hajj camp on Friday.
This is the second year after 2019 that Hajj pilgrims from India will get the opportunity. Kovid erupted in terror around the world as the Hajj pilgrimage in 2020 progressed. With this, the proceedings were stopped. Unusually for the past two years, only locals and foreigners in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to visit the holy site, which attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world.
India’s Hajj quota has been halved from 1,75,025 this year, despite the decline in Kovid expansion. This time only 80,000 people from India have the opportunity. Of these, 5758 have secured seats from Kerala. About 7747 pilgrims will leave Kochi, including 1989 from Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and the Andamans. This year’s Hajj service is for Saudi Airlines.
Shihabuddin returned for Hajj and set off on foot
Valancherry: Shihabuddin started his journey to fulfill his desire to perform Hajj on foot. Shihabuddin (30), son of Athavanad Chottoor Chelampadan Saithalavi and Zainab, started their journey towards Mecca. The aim is to reach Saudi Arabia before the start of the Hajj pilgrimage next year.
The journey started on Thursday morning. Relatives, friends and locals left. Starting from Kanjipura, it will travel through Puthanathani, Vailathoor, Tanur, Parappanangadi, Kadalundi, Kozhikode, Mahe, Kannur and Kasaragod. The journey will cover an average distance of about 8600 km and will cover an average of 25 km per day. Rest will be at centers including mosques, temples and gurudwaras. It will reach Saudi Arabia via Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait. He plans to arrive in Saudi Arabia in eight months. Shihab, who was an expatriate, has been at home for the past six years. He is doing business in Kanjipura. Wife: Shabna. Daughter: Muhmina Zainab.