Hajj 2022: Saudi Arabia to allow 79,237 Indian pilgrims
New Delhi: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia decided to allow 79,237 Indian pilgrims for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, “Indonesia receives the largest share, followed by Pakistan and India.”
The ministry allotted a quota of 100,051 for Indonesia, while Pakistan got the second largest number with 81,132 pilgrims, and India came third with 79,237 pilgrims. Bangladesh will send the fourth-largest number of pilgrims with a quota of 57,585.
Meanwhile, Saudi allotted 43,008 pilgrims to Nigeria, 13,582 to Afghanistan, 37,770 pilgrims to Turkey, 12,348 UK, 9,504 USA, and 9,268 pilgrims to France.
The ministry earlier announced that foreign pilgrims constitute 85 percent of the one million pilgrims allowed to perform Hajj in 2022.
Total 8,50,000 foreign pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj, whereas domestic pilgrims are restricted to 1,50,000 people.
It is the first year when foreign pilgrims will be allowed entry after 2019. The pilgrim capacity was limited to 60,000 vaccinated citizens in 2021 due to measures imposed to curb the pandemic.
The middle-eastern nation announced its decision to allow one million pilgrims to perform Hajj earlier this month. Pilgrims performing Hajj should be less than 65 years of age, complete two doses of the vaccination, and are required to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test result within 72 hours of the time of departure.
The ministry requested the pilgrims to adhere to all precautionary measures issued by the Saudi government.
Though the Hajj Committee of India had received over one lakh applications this year, the committee will prepare the final list on the through draw system.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims must perform the pilgrimage once in a lifetime if they are physically and financially able.
(Avya Mathur)
