Srinagar, Apr 16: The first batch of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will depart for Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025 pilgrimage on May 4, with flights scheduled to operate from Srinagar International Airport until May 15, officials said on Wednesday.
Director Srinagar International Airport Javed Anjum told Rising Kashmir that all necessary arrangements are being finalized to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for the pilgrims.
“All pilgrims are required to report at the Hajj House Bemina for check-in formalities. Boarding passes will be issued at dedicated counters at the Hajj House, and new X-ray machines will be installed there to screen check-in baggage,” he said.
He added that customs formalities will also be completed at the Hajj House itself.
“After clearance, pilgrims will be transported to the airport in air-conditioned coaches provided by the RTC, while their baggage will be shifted separately in sealed container trucks.”
A dedicated passageway has been earmarked within the airport to streamline the pilgrims’ movement.
“A separate area in the SHA (Security Hold Area) will also be reserved for pilgrims to change into Ihram. We aim to make the process efficient and provide a pleasant travel experience,” Anjum said.
Meanwhile despite the arrangements, Hajj applications from Jammu and Kashmir have dropped to a historic low in 2025 due to rising economic pressures on families.
As per figures, only 4,100 applications were received this year, a steep 48% drop compared to 2024, when 8,147 people applied.
The declining trend has been consistent in recent years: over 35,000 applied in 2017, 21,500 in 2019, and about 12,000 in 2023.
Of this year’s applicants, 3,622 have been selected for the pilgrimage, including 21 women under the Mahram quota (for women accompanied by male relatives they cannot marry).
However, over 700 applicants later withdrew, reportedly due to financial constraints.
India’s total Hajj quota for 2025 stands at 1,75,025, of which 1,22,550 seats are managed by the Haj Committee of India. Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated around 4.89%, including 2,000 additional seats, bringing its total quota to approximately 7,981.
