By TCN News
The first batch of 340 Haj pilgrims flew from Delhi to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at 2.30 am IST on Thursday. Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flagged off the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Haj Terminal, with prayers for unity, peace, prosperity and harmony in nation and the entire world.
The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addressing at the flag-off ceremony of the first flight of Haj Pilgrims, in New Delhi on August 03, 2016
For Haj 2016, a total of 12,500 Haj pilgrims will be proceeding from Delhi by Air India’s 37 charter flights. Around 8,690 Haj pilgrims will be from Uttar Pradesh and rest will be from Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that Haj pilgrimage is a cherished desire of every Muslim in his lifetime and extended good wishes on behalf of the Prime Minister and himself.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia, Haj Committee of India Chairman Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser, Minority Affairs Ministry Secretary Shri Rakesh Garg, Haj Committee of India Member and Delhi Coordinator Shri H B Kazmi and others were present on the occasion.
The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi greeting the Haj Pilgrims, during the first flight flag-off ceremony, in New Delhi on August 03, 2016.
For Haj 2016, a total 1,00,020 Haj pilgrims will be facilitated from 21 points across India through Haj Committee. Apart from this, 36,000 Haj pilgrims will proceed through private tour operators.
British Hajis ask pilgrims to maintain sanctity, refrain from taking selfies
The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a National Hajj & Umrah specific organisation working for the welfare and well-being of pilgrims, has expressed grave concern about the growing culture of disregard for the sanctity of the House of Allah and the Haram-e-Madinah by some naive pilgrims.
“It is immensely disturbing that these pilgrims while they are in Haramain-e-Shareefain, focus on taking selfies, photographs and making videos rather than concentrating on their prayers, which undermines the spirit of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage. They are showing total disrespect to the Haram-e-Makkah and Madinah by deifying the wish and Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace be upon him),” the organisation said.
The nuisance has “taken away the peace and serenity of the holy places and the essence of the pilgrimage and is causing extreme discomfort and disturbance to other pilgrims,” it said.
ABH urged that every effort should be made to protect the sanctity of the holy places against naïve pilgrims in order to ensure that the other pilgrims perform their prayers in peace and tranquility .