By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: With devotion in their heart pilgrims arrived at Haj House in Sarojini Nagar for their onward journey to Saudi Arabia from Wednesday. Nearly 570 devotees have reported at the Haj House till Tuesday.
The State Haj Committee (SHC) has made elaborate arrangements for devotees. Senior cabinet minister and Chairman, SHC, Naseemuddin Siddiqui has issued strict directives to ensure all facilities to the devotees. The litmus test will begin when the number of devotees swells at the Haj House.
SHS has taken several initiatives for smooth sailing of the Haj season. The devotees will be informed about the various rituals in Haj through a film. CDs of the film have arrived and it will be screened in the Haj House. A copy of the CD will also be handed over to the pilgrim.
For the first time, the custom, emigration and luggage screening facilities will be completed at Haj House itself. The pilgrim will then leave in bus to Amausi airport with only hand baggage. His luggage will reach the airport in a separate truck under police protection. Earlier the pilgrims mostly from humble background found it difficult to cope up with these formalities at the airport.
SHC also has strictly denied admission to the persons accompanying pilgrims. Only one attendant is being allowed inside the Haj House after issuing a valid entry pass. SHC also has initiated an informative programme about do’s and dont’s related to the journey. Alcoholic substances, drugs, stove, gas burner etc are a strict no during the flight. Saudi government has strict regulation for drugs and can lead to death sentence. Items as nail cutter, small knife, etc should be kept in suitcase and not in hand bag. Open edible items are also not allowed.
On Tuesday, the SHC officials distributed visas to the pilgrims who will be leaving for the journey on Thursday. Around 32000 pilgrims from UP will leave from Lucknow and Varanasi embarkation points. From Lucknow 13200 pilgrims will leave belonging to 21 districts. Visas for 11200 have been received while for the remaining 2000 visa is still awaited. The flights which will commence from Thursday will continue till October 16. Fifty pilgrims were immunised on Tuesday which is mandatory as per Saudi government guidelines.
In another development, SHC has informed that pilgrims going by scheduled flight SV 5239 on October 4 have to deposit Rs 1800 extra as transportation charges. The charges are being realised as Saudi Airlines has diverted the flight route from Lucknow-Madina to Lucknow-Jeddah-Madina. These pilgrims will be thus taken straight to Mecca from Jeddah hence they should also wear the Ahram – un-stitched cloth draped around the body — from Lucknow itself.