By TCN News,
Malappuram: The Kerala State Hajj Camp began on Sunday in the Karippur Hajj House. Minister of Hajj Affairs PK Kunjalikkutty inaugurated the Hajj Camp at the Hajj House near the Karippur International Airport. The session was presided over by the Hajj Committee chairman PTA Raheem (MLA).
The works of the Hajj Camp and the Hajj Cell began by the inauguration. However, the pilgrims need reach the Hajj Camp only by 5 pm on the day before their scheduled departure. The first Hajj flight from the state will leave on September 29. Registration will continue still October 15. Flights from Karippur will take pilgrims from Lakshadweep and Mahe also, besides those from Kerala.
Meanwhile, 158 more people from the state have been selected for the Hajj by the ‘discretionary quota’ of the central government. Their cover numbers are reportedly available on the website of the State Hajj Committee (www.hajcommittee.com ). Those selected should immediately send their photo in white background and passport to the Central Hajj Committee office in Mumbai. They should also remit an amount of Rs 1,02,779 at the SBI Account Number 31136268352.
The Hajj Committee announced the special directions for the Hajj pilgrims. The pilgrims should carry three copies of their passport-sized photographs, with their names and cover numbers written behind, when coming to the Hajj Camp. One person can carry a total of 55 kg including the hand baggage and an extra 10 litres of ‘Zamzam’ water. The hand baggage should not exceed 10 kg. Extra luggage if any will be allowed only via cargo. The pilgrims should register their baggage at the Camp’s Registration Counter and get tags for the luggage. They will get the travel documents and necessary Saudi Riyals from the Camp. The flights will go straight to Madeena.
The pilgrims should carry the necessary clothes and blankets etc in the hand baggage. The essential medicines can be kept in the hand baggage with proper prescription by the doctor concerned. However, items like coconut, stove, match box, lighter, knife, audio-video cassettes, CDs, publications banned in Saudi Arabia etc should not be carried.
The name, cover number and address of each pilgrim should be written in English over his/her luggage. Photo can also be pasted. The pilgrims should make sure that they have remitted the full fees for the Hajj as per the category allotted. The pilgrim copy of the pay-in slip used to pay the amount and the letter in which the cover number was sent from the Hajj Committee should be kept in the hand baggage. The original certificate of vaccinations should be kept in the hand baggage. As the relatives who come with the pilgrims won’t be allowed into the airport, they should see them off at the Camp itself. The Hajis themselves should collect ‘Zamzam’ water and bring along on return if needed.
The inaugural function at the Hajj Camp was attended by Adv KNA Qader (MLA), K Muhammedunni Haji (MLA), Abdurahman Randathani (MLA), District Panchayat President Suhra Mampad, Malappuram District SP K Sethuraman, Central Hajj Committee members Prof AK Abdul Hameed and Abdussamad Pookkottur, State Hajj Committee members Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunji Moulavi, Kasim Koya Ponnani and Ahmed Devarkovil, District Panchayat member M Aboobaker Haji, etc.