Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 9: The eagerly anticipated event of the year’s Hajj pilgrimage commenced as the first group of pilgrims from Kashmir embarked on their journey to Mekka.
Clad in modest white attire, the pilgrims gathered at Hajj House in Bemina area of Srinagar in the early hours, bidding farewell to their loved ones. Amidst the emotional atmosphere, a sense of unity and shared purpose pervaded as the pilgrims expressed their sincere desire to partake in the sacred rituals of Hajj with unwavering faith and humility.
Two flights, each carrying 322 pilgrims, departed from Srinagar International Airport, totalling 642 pilgrims. Notably, a total of 7008 Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are set to undertake the holy pilgrimage this year.
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Among the pilgrims, a 66-year-old expressed intense joy, saying that he had awaited this moment his entire life. “Completing one of the pillars of Islam fills me with immense satisfaction,” she said and added that she would pray for harmony and peace in the whole world.
Another pilgrim echoed similar sentiments, expressing overwhelming joy at fulfilling the lifelong dream of performing Hajj. “Today, with the grace of Allah, my dream has come true,” he said. He extended prayers for the end of the hardships faced by the Muslim world and for the welfare and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, another pilgrim said, “We are grateful that Allah has called us to this holy place. Going for Hajj was the sole aim of my life,” he said.
Performing Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, obligating all physically and financially sound Muslims to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. This spiritual journey entails significant religious rites emulating those performed by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Airport staff ensured a smooth and joyful journey for all pilgrims by providing assistance, guidance, and expedited processing of travel documentation.
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