Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh flagged off a batch of 45 Haj pilgrims of Doda District to Srinagar.
SSP Doda Javaid Iqbal ACR Doda Sunil Butyal were also present at the event.
The event marked the beginning of their journey to undertake the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca.
The group of pilgrims included 23 pilgrims from Doda, 4 from Bhaderwah, 7 from Thathri, and 11 from Gandoh. The list includes 31 males and 14 females.
The District Administration Doda ensured all necessary arrangements and facilities for the pilgrims to travel safely and comfortably to Haj House Srinagar and will take an international flight to Saudi Arabia today from International Airport Srinagar.
“The first batch of 45 pilgrims from Doda are leaving for Srinagar today. Another batch of 18 pilgrims will go via Delhi. Their health checkups and mandatory vaccinations have been done,” DC Singh told ANI.
Nasir Qayoom Zargar a Haj pilgrim from Doda told ANI, “We wait with patience to complete the Haj. May God accept it. And bless everyone with it. We hope that God fills our life with faith after performing the Haj. We will pray for peace and security”.
Interacting with the pilgrims, the DC Doda congratulated them for getting the opportunity to perform Haj. He also wished them a safe and secure pilgrimage and appealed to them to pray for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and the District as well.
He emphasized the significance of the Haj pilgrimage and the importance of upholding the values of peace unity and brotherhood.
The event was attended by the District Administration and police representatives from the religious community and well-wishers who came together to bid farewell to the pilgrims and pray for their well-being during their sacred journey. Besides a large number of people were present to see off the pilgrims.
A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj this year after India signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia (KSA) at Jeddah in January this year.
The Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 was signed between Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Smriti Irani accompanied by V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs with Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in January this year.
“A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee of India which will greatly benefit the common first-time pilgrims intending to undertake the Haj pilgrimage in 2024 whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through Haj Group Operators,” the Ministry of Minority Affairs said in an official press release earlier. (ANI)
