8,500 pilgrims from Karnataka to embark on Haj 2025
Mohamed Hasnain
CH News
A total of 8,500 Haj pilgrims from Karnataka will embark on the holy Haj pilgrimage from June this year.
Speaking to City Hilights, Karnataka Haj CEO Sarfaraz Khan said ``the Haj operations start from 30th of April. The first flight will commence on midnight of 30th April, with the last flight will be departing on 15th May. There are total of 27 flights which will be operational from three embarkation points’’ he said.
Pilgrims from South Karnataka region will depart from Bengaluru, Pilgrims from Hyderabad Karnataka region will depart from Hyderabad and Pilgrims from Mumbai Karnataka region will fly out from Goa.
Out of 13000 applications for the year 2025 there were 8500 pilgrims who were selected through Qurra (lottery system) in the state.
``Training for the pilgrims will take place from 6th April to 17th April at various districts in the state including Bidar, Kalburgi, Hospet, Bengaluru, Shimoga and Dharwad. During this training period the pilgrims will also be vaccinated for Meningitis’’ Sarfaraz Khan said.
He said the Karnataka Haj Committee organized a walkathon recently during which the pilgrims had to walk for about three kilometers, during this walk the hajj committee members monitored and analyzed the physical or medical issues faced by pilgrims. It was mainly organized for the pilgrims to get used to the tough conditions like extensive walking and dehydration, to avoid such problems this guideline was issued by Haj committee of India so that the pilgrims can get used to the conditions and even practice it regularly before departing.
The Karnataka Haj CEO said ``Saudi Arabia has implemented new Hajj guidelines, including a ban on children under 12 and stricter visa regulations for pilgrims from 14 countries. First-time pilgrims will receive preference, and a flexible payment plan is available for domestic pilgrims. These measures aim to enhance safety, manage overcrowding, and ensure a smooth pilgrimage for all attendees’’.
Out of India's Haj quota of 1.75 lakh pilgrims, 52,500 are scheduled to go through Combined Haj Group Organisers (CHGO) while the rest will use the services of the Haj Committee of India.
