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India releases new Haj policy, adjusts quota

70 percent of the quota will now be managed by the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and the remaining 30 percent allocated to private Haj Group Organisers…reports Asian Lite News

Under the new Haj Policy for 2025, India has revised the allocation of its Haj pilgrims quota, with 70 percent managed by the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and the remaining 30 percent allocated to private Haj Group Organisers. This marks a change from 2024, when the HCoI was responsible for 80 percent of the quota and private groups handled 20 percent.

The policy prioritises different groups for the pilgrimage. In 2024, priority was given to applicants aged 70 and above, ladies traveling without mehrams (LWM), and the general category. The new policy adjusts this to prioritise pilgrims aged 65 and above, followed by LWM applicants, and then the general category.

A significant change is the requirement for older pilgrims to have companions. The policy stipulates that pilgrims aged 65 or above must travel with a companion and cannot be registered as lone members. Companions must be immediate family members and be below 60 years of age. For LWM pilgrims aged 65 or above, the companion must be a female aged between 45 and 60 years.

The policy also introduces a ‘Haj Suvidha’ App, launched during Haj-2024, to enhance the convenience and support for Indian pilgrims. The app provides access to training content, accommodation, flight and baggage details, emergency helpline (SOS), grievance redressal, feedback, language translation, and other relevant information.

Haj Application Forms (HAFs) can be completed online via the HCoI website, accessible on mobile phones. The Indian government and Saudi Arabia sign an annual bilateral agreement specifying the number of Haj seats allocated to India. For 2024, India was allotted a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims under this agreement.

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MoHAP deploys health teams for Hajj pilgrims at airports

The Ministry has equipped the health education teams with the necessary resources to ensure that pilgrims undertake a healthy and safe Hajj…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in collaboration with its partners in the health sector has announced it will deploy specialised health education teams at airports, in a strategic move aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims from infectious diseases.

The teams will accompany Hajj convoys prior to their departure from the country, providing essential health guidance and outlining precautions to be taken before, during travel, and throughout the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Ministry has equipped the health education teams with the necessary resources to ensure that pilgrims undertake a healthy and safe Hajj.

This move comes under the umbrella of the Ministry’s unified awareness campaign for the current Hajj season, titled “Safe Healthy Hajj.” The campaign has been launched in collaboration with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, and the Dubai Health Authority.

Additionally, it is being coordinated with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and local endowment departments across various emirates.

As part of this initiative, MoHAP’s team will ensure that pilgrims are administered the requisite vaccinations to guard against infections and conduct health screenings, including blood pressure and diabetes tests, with an emphasis on individuals with chronic ailments, the elderly, and pregnant women.

In addition, the team will advocate for adherence to preventive measures such as avoiding heat exhaustion and physical exertion, which can increase the risk of contracting diseases and health complications. Additionally, the team will highlight the importance of maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet.

Furthermore, the Ministry’s team will maintain communication with medical teams accompanying the Hajj groups to provide support with medications and medical consultations, as part of its efforts to deliver comprehensive health and awareness services, enabling the pilgrims to perform their Hajj rituals in optimal health and safety.

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Saudi announces largest operational plan for Haj Season

The plan focuses on several main axes related to the strategic goals of the Presidency 2024 based on the Saudi Vision 2030…reports Asian Lite News

The General President of the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and Prophet’s Holy Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, announced the operational plan of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques for this year’s Hajj season 1444 AH, the most extensive operational plan for the presidency, SPA reported.

The plan focuses on several main axes related to the strategic goals of the Presidency 2024 based on the Saudi Vision 2030, in the presence of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.

In his opening speech at the media forum, Al-Sudais said, “The operational plan for this year’s Hajj season is the largest in the history of the presidency, after the end of the Corona pandemic and the announcement of the return of Hajj pilgrims in the millions, per an integrated system of services prepared by the wise leadership.”

He added that this plan is an extension of the outstanding successes and long-term achievements that were laid down by the directives of the wise government led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince, who closely follow all the services provided to the pilgrims.

In volunteering and humanitarian work, the General President stated that the Presidency provided more than 8,000 volunteer opportunities in the Two Holy Mosques in ten fields and more than 200,000 volunteer hours during the Hajj season.

To enhance the guiding role of the Two Holy Mosques, he stressed that the Presidency provides translation services, spatial guidance, and information for the pilgrims in 51 international languages across 49 stations.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, spoke during the launch of the operational plan about integration and coordination between the Ministry of Hajj and the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque in serving the pilgrims, especially with the return of the numbers of pilgrims into the millions, and providing the best services so that they perform their rituals with comfort and tranquility.

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Syrians’ Haj pilgrimage to resume next year

There will be no Haj pilgrimage for Syrians this year as the relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia have just been restored …reports Asian Lite News

Syrians’ Haj pilgrimage to the Islamic holy cities of Medina and Mecca in Saudi Arabia will be resumed in 2024 after 12 years of suspension, Syria’s head of Hajj affairs said.

There will be no Haj pilgrimage for Syrians this year as the relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia have just been restored and the Haj arrangements need time and coordination, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper quoted Hassan Nasrallah as saying on Wednesday.

The Muslim Haj pilgrimage in 2023 will be observed between July 18 and 23, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the years when the Syrian-Saudi relations were severed, Syrian pilgrims who wanted to perform Haj needed to obtain visas from neighbouring countries.

Syria and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume consular services in April and restored full diplomatic relations this month.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab Summit held in Saudi Arabia last week for the first time in 12 years, marking the return of Syria to the Arab fold after long years of isolation.

Syrian refugees

A total of 50 Syrian refugees from Lebanon have reached the refugee camps in Syria’s northern Raqqa province controlled by the Kurdish-led militias, a war monitor reported on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the refugees, mostly women, and children, reached Raqqa overnight on Monday via illegal smuggling routes carrying little belongings.

The observatory said those people were forced to leave after their homes were raided by Lebanese security forces.

The report collaborates with stories emerging from Lebanon about Lebanese forces cracking down on Syrian refugees who don’t have legal residency in Lebanon.

The UK-based watchdog group said there are currently 54 refugee camps in Raqqa, housing displaced Syrians from several areas. It noted that the humanitarian situation there is dire.

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India’s Haj quota raised to 2 lakh, women get special focus

The Haj Committee official stated that the decision was made after extensive and thorough consultation with the Saudi Arabia Government’s Haj ministry…reports Asian Lite News

The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has decided to allow two lakh pilgrims to perform the sacred pilgrimage from India with special focus on women.

With the increase in Haj quota, the number of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will also be more compared to previous years. for the Haj 2023, the Good Morning Kashmir reported.

Official announcement in this regard will be made shortly. This is for the first time that two lakh Indian Muslims will perform Haj 2023.

Member HCoI, Er Aijaz Hussain said that HCoI after thorough consultations with the Saudi Arabia Government’s Haj ministry, has decided to allow two lakh pilgrims from India for the Haj 2023.

“The Haj quota has been increased and for the year 2023, two lakh pilgrims will perform the holy pilgrimage. In Haj 2023, special focus will be on women pilgrims,” the Good Morning Kashmir report quoted Er Aijaz as saying that.

Asked whether the J&K will also have an enhanced Haj quota, Er Aijaz said that the number of pilgrims from UT will obviously be more than the previous years given increase in Haj quota.

He said it was after hectic efforts by the HCoI that the Haj quota for India was increased to two lakh. “We are also working to make Haj 2023 cheaper and smooth compared to previous pilgrimages,” Er Aijaz said.

He said that HCoI has already decided to ensure more embankment points to facilitate pilgrims in a friendly manner. “Pilgrims will have a choice to choose the embankment points of their choice,” he said. He said that in Haj 2023, special focus will also be on women pilgrims. “Earlier, many women aspiring to go for Haj without ‘mehram’ faced a lot of issues. We will address their issues and allow them to perform the Haj smoothly,” Er Aijaz said.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani Chairs Haj Review Meeting (HRM) for review preparation of Haj 1444(H) – 2023.

Reliable sources in the HCoI said that it was after a series of meetings in Mumbai and New Delhi followed by the brainstorming sessions where feedback taken by the pilgrims from various parts of the country was discussed and strategies formed to plug the loopholes. They said that in the upcoming Haj, pilgrims will be facilitated in a more efficient manner.

Pertinently, after the resumption of Haj in 2022 after two years of break due to Covid pandemic, only 80,000 Indian Muslims performed Haj. All of them had to undergo Covid vaccination and take along the vaccination certificate as part of mandatory documents.

Sources said that in Haj 2023, pilgrims will be also allowed to bring sacred water called ‘Zam Zam’ without any hassle or hindrance. “Each pilgrim will be allowed to bring 5 kg Zam Zam. HCoI will fully facilitate the process of providing Zam Zam water to each pilgrim,” he said—(KNO)

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141,000 pilgrims in Madinah after performing Haj

Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel said the health plan for the current Haj season was successful as there were no epidemic outbreaks or other major public health incidents…reports Asian Lite News

Almost 141,000 pilgrims of various nationalities have arrived in Madinah after performing Haj rituals in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah statistics showed that the Madinah immigration centre received almost 131,000 worshippers who arrived by bus.

More than 7,000 made their way overland to the Land Pilgrim Reception Centre, and nearly 3,000 traveled on the Haramain high-speed railway.

Ministry figures also revealed that thousands of pilgrims left Madinah for their respective countries, while more than 69,000 remained in the holy city.

During their stay, many of the pilgrims visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, in Madinah, located adjacent to the southern squares of the Prophet’s Mosque, Arab News reported.

The museum, which is open 24 hours a day, offers an introduction to the Prophet Muhammad through displays and interactive screens available in a variety of languages. One hall includes rare items and ancient artifacts from the Two Holy Mosques, it was reported.

Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel said the health plan for the current Haj season was successful as there were no epidemic outbreaks or other major public health incidents.

He said only 38 Covid-19 cases were detected in the holy sites and were all dealt with in accordance with health protocols.

This year is also the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 that Saudi Arabia allows foreign pilgrims to perform Haj, as the last two seasons were limited only to domestic pilgrims.

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First batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana departs

First batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana departs

First batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana left for the pilgrimage from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on Monday.,,reports Asian Lite News

A total of 373 pilgrims left for Jeddah by a special flight of Saudi Airlines at 5.55 a.m., an official of Telangana State Haj Committee said.

Earlier, around midnight the buses carrying the pilgrims were flagged off by state home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and State Haj Committee chairman Mohammed Saleem at Haj House in the city.

The pilgrims began their journey with enthusiasm amid chanting of ‘Talbiyah’, a special prayer invoked during the Haj. Emotional scenes were witnessed at Haj House as scores of relatives, friends and well-wishers bid adieu to the pilgrims.

The first flight had 211 pilgrims from Hyderabad and the remaining were from seven other districts.

This is after a gap of two years that pilgrims from India are performing Haj. Saudi Arabia had not allowed pilgrims from other countries in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

About 80,000 Indian pilgrims will be performing Haj this year. The Haj quota this year has been reduced in view of Covid protocol.

Telangana has been allocated a quota of 1,822. About 5,000 pilgrims from Telangana had performed Haj in 2019.

Officials said this year a total of 3,016 pilgrims including pilgrims from some districts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra would depart from Hyderabad through Saudi Airline flights.

Like in the previous years, Haj House was turned into embarkation point for the pilgrims. The Haj Committee made all the arrangements including food and accommodation for the pilgrims who had reached there from various districts of Telangana.

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Various departments provided services like customs clearance, checking of baggage and provision of currency exchange under one roof.

One of the five pillars of Islam, Haj is annual pilgrimage to holiest city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Haj is mandatory for at least once in lifetime for all Muslims who are financially and physically capable of undertaking the journey.

Haj pilgrimage this year will commence on July 7 and continue through July 12, corresponding to the 10th of Dhulhijjah, the last month of Islamic calendar. The final date will be decided upon sighting of the new moon of Dhulhijjah,

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Haj 2022 will be fully online, says Naqvi

With an emphasis on ‘Vocal For Local’, Haj 2022 pilgrims will go with indigenous products, which will be bought in India…reports Asian Lite News.

After two years’ ban on Haj owing to the Covid-19 crisis, the Indian government has announced the 2022 schedules for the most important pilgrimage of Muslims, with a fully online process and a ‘swadeshi’ touch, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Monday.

All Muslims who are fully vaccinated and desirous of proceeding for Haj next year, including women without male companions, can apply online or through the upgraded Haj Mobile App before the deadline of January 31, 2022, the minister said.

With an emphasis on ‘Vocal For Local’, Haj 2022 pilgrims will go with indigenous products, which will be bought in India.

“Earlier, Haj pilgrims used to buy bed sheets, pillows, towels, umbrellas and other items in Saudi Arabia in foreign currency. These will be available in India at about 50 per cent lower prices compared with Saudi Arabia,” said Naqvi.

All these items will be given to Haj pilgrims at their respective embarkation points in India, the minister told mediapersons with the Vice Consul-General of Saudi Arabia in Mumbai, Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Enazi, Joint Secretary at the Centre Nigar Fatima and Haj Committee of India CEO Mohammed Yakoob Shekha, present.

For decades, Haj pilgrims used to buy all these items in Saudi Arabia in foreign currency, and though most products were Indian-made, they were available at twice or thrice the rates in Saudi Arabia, he pointed out.

According to some estimates, this will save crores of rupees for the Indian pilgrims, around 200,000 who go to perform the annual Haj pilgrimage, barring the 2020-2021 seasons.

The selection process will be as per the criterial and guidelines of both India and Saudi Arabia.

This time, the embarkation points for Haj 2022 have been slashed by half from 21 to just 10 in India, the minister said.

The embarkation points are: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Srinagar, with their respective states and other neighbouring regions in their jurisdiction.

A Digital Health Card, ‘E-Masiha’ and ‘E-Luggage Pre-tagging’ will provide all information pertaining to accommodation or transportation in Mecca-Medina to all the pilgrims, he said.

Naqvi said that over 3,000 women without male companion had applied for the last two years’ Haj seasons which were cancelled and their applications would be valid for Haj-2022.

Besides, other women can also apply fresh for Haj-2022 and all these applications under the without ‘Mehram’ category shall be exempt from the lottery system.

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Haj 2021 to be limited for domestic pilgrims

Muslim pilgrims are seen around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 14, 2016. The annual pilgrimage officially ends on Sept. 15. (Xinhua/Wang Bo/IANS)

The Ministry of Haj and Umrah stressed that the decision was taken for the safety and health of pilgrims, supported by the other Islamic states…reports Asian Lite News

The Saudi Arabian government has announced its decision to limit the upcoming Haj season to domestic pilgrims only with a maximum of 60,000 individuals in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In its announcement on Saturday, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah said it decided to limit the availability of registration for those wishing to perform the annual pilgrimage this year to citizens and residents inside the country only, due to the global Covid outbreaks and the new virus mutations, reports xinhua news agency.

This year, vaccinated and recovered citizens and residents of the age group 18-65 who do not have chronic diseases will be allowed to register to perform Haj.

The upcoming Haj will be the second season with no overseas pilgrims due to concerns of the pandemic.

The Ministry stressed that the decision was taken for the safety and health of pilgrims, supported by the other Islamic states.

Last year, 1,000 pilgrims of 160 nationalities living in Saudi Arabia performed the rituals, along with medics and security personnel.

In the last 10 years, the Kingdom has welcomed more than 150 million pilgrims.

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Only immunized pilgrims allowed to Haj

Accordingly, he advised those who have applied for the Haj 2021 to take the first dose of the vaccine on their own now so they can be administered the second dose before departure…reports Asian Lite News.

In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 14,074,564 cases. In a major development, the Haj Committee of India (HCI) has said that no Indian Muslims shall be allowed to go for the annual Haj pilgrimage unless they have taken the two vaccine doses.

The HCI CEO Maqsood Ahmed Khan made the announcement late on Thursday following the latest directives from the Saudi Arabian Health Ministry and the Indian Consulate-General in Jeddah.

Accordingly, he advised those who have applied for the Haj 2021 to take the first dose of the vaccine on their own now so they can be administered the second dose before departure.

However, Khan made it clear that there is no official communication on the status of the Haj pilgrimage yet from the Saudi Arabian authorities so far and the entire process would be subject to their approval.

“In case Indian pilgrims perform Haj-2021, outgoing flights will start from mid-June,” Khan said, for the most important pilgrimage in a Muslim’s life, this year falling on July 17.

It may be recalled that in 2020, the Haj pilgrimage was out of bounds for the Muslim faithful from India as it came during the surging peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in late-July, and this year, the country is witnessing a second and much deadlier Covid wave.

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