Hajj News

Eid Al-Adha, sometimes called "Bakrid," is one of the most revered holidays in the Muslim world. 

The Hajj involves a series of rituals completed over at least four days in Mecca and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means This spiritual journey holds immense significance for believers, offering an opportunity to connect with Allah, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their faith

In a significant development, Indian pilgrims participating in Hajj 2024 will, for the first time, have the opportunity to travel directly from Jeddah Airport to Makkah via a high-speed train.  

There are concerns over Covid pandemic Access will be given to limited people

Netizens hailed this as a key step towards women empowerment This year, 60,000 vaccinated citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia have been allowed to perform the Hajj

The Centre has extended the last date for submission of application forms for Haj 2021. Embarkation points-wise estimated cost per Haj pilgrim has also been reduced.

The Covid-19 pandemic has badly affected the Hajj pilgrimage. Only 3729 people have applied from Uttar Pradesh to travel in 2021 to Saudi Arabia for the holy pilgrimage. In 2020, around 29000 people had submitted their applications till this date.

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced only around 1,000 pilgrims of various nationalities already in the Kingdom will be allowed to perform a dramatically scaled-down hajj this year. The decision to exclude pilgrims outside Saudi Arabia has sparked disappointment among Muslims worldwide. Many Muslims, however, accepted it was necessary due to the health risks involved.

Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said they were trying to digitalise Hajj 2018 and that the application forms would be available from November 15 to December 7.

"We thank Saudi Arabia... For adopting a new approach in dealing with Iranian pilgrims," said Ali Ghazi-Askar, the head of the hajj organisation in Tehran, according to the state broadcaster.

This year sees the return of pilgrims from Shiite Iran, regional rival to Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia, and comes with the Gulf mired in political crisis and Islamic State group jihadists squeezed in Iraq and Syria.

Qatar welcomes the opening of the Saudi-Qatari border enabling Qataris to go on pilgrimage to Mecca, even if the move is politically-motivated, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Thursday.

Ten firefighting units were working to douse the fire that started around noon at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

In a big development, China banned a dozens of Muslim baby names in Xinjiang.

Islam, Quran, Mecca, Jihad, Imam, Saddam, Hajj, and Medina are among dozens of baby names banned under ruling Chinese Communist Party's "Naming Rules For Ethnic Minorities".

A senior Tehran official says Iranian authorities are ready to "participate in bilateral talks" with Saudi Arabia about the 2017 hajj pilgrimage.

The annual pilgrimage, which starts and ends in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is a must for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.

The annual hajj reached its high point on Sunday when Muslims from across the world converged on a stoney hill in Saudi Arabia, a year after the worst tragedy in the pilgrimage's history.

The numbers are down because of the absence of tens of thousands of Iranians over tensions between their Shiite nation and the Sunni-dominated Gulf kingdom.

The date of Eid al-Adha celebration is fixed as per the lunar calendar.