Mangalore: S M Krishna flags off First flight Carrying Haj Pilgrims
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (RS/SP)
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Mangalore, Oct 25: Union minister for external affairs, S M Krishna, flagged off the first ever batch of the Haj pilgrims scheduled to fly directly from the Bajpe airport, on Sunday October 25.
Speaking at the programme held at the Haj Pilgrims Camp at Ansari Masjid in Bajpe, S M Krishna said that the Haj pilgrimage from this city had become a reality because of the efforts of the UPA government. In addition to the city, Ranchi in Jharkhand, has also been added to the list of cities from the country from where Haj pilgrims can take direct flights, he explained. He noted that pilgrims settled nearby these airports are now spared of the trouble to make long trips to reach their departure points. In future, arrangements will be made to ensure that the pilgrims from the coastal districts of Karnataka and North Kerala region take their flights from Bajpe airport, he said.
He felt that there is a need to curb the irregularities being committed by the private tour operators for Haj pilgrimage. “The private operators will curse me, but I will do it for a good reason, so I hope the curse will not be harm me,” he said.
“After the UPA government rose to power at the centre for the second time, there were many other urgent works on hand. As such, the works relating to arranging the Haj pilgrimage from here had to wait for some time. However, it could be got completed in time,” he said, expressing satisfaction.
In spite of grave challenges like tackling the swine flu menace and issuing of international passports, the government has worked hard to ensure that the Haj pilgrims are able to undertake their journey without any problems, he said, and requested the pilgrims to bear with the government if they face any inconveniences for the time being.
Arrangements of imparting orientation programme for the pilgrims, just before their onward journey, and for providing them medical help at Jedda and Riyadh consulates, have been made with the help of nearly 300 persons from the medical fraternity for the convenience of the pilgrims, he said.
He extended warm wishes to the pilgrims, by saying, “you are the representatives of India in spread the Indian culture elsewhere. Please stand by peace and harmony and good values this country has stood for, and pray for India.”
S M Krishna flagged of the flight at Bajpe airport and also the buses carrying the pilgrims at Ansari Masjid ground at Bajpe, where the Haj Camp is located. Religious leaders, under the leadership of Ullal Tangal, Assaiyyad Abdul Rahman Musliyar, performed the connected rituals.
State minister for Wakf and minority development, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, former union minister, Janardan Poojary and others several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
About Haj Pilgrimage:
For the first time, over 700 Haj pilgrims from the twin-districts of Udupi and Mangalore besides Kodagu and Uttara Kannada, have left on a Haj pilgrimage from the local airport. The flights, scheduled for 12.45 pm every day, will take off with 112 pilgrims in each flight, from October 25 to 30. The pilgrims will reach Kozhikode, from where they will be flown in an Air India flight to Jeddah.
It is mandatory for the able-bodied and those who are financially capable of undertaking the pilgrimage, to complete the pilgrimage at least once during their lifetime. The annual congregation of the faithful at Mecca to perform several rituals which complete the pilgrimage, bears testimony to the solidarity of the Muslims and demonstrates their total submission to Allah. The pilgrimage falls between the eighth and thirteenth day of Dhu All-Hijjah month as per the Islamic calendar, that falls between November 25 and 29 this year. During the week, about three million devotees converge on the holy Mecca. The holy rituals include walking anti-clockwise around Kaaba seven times, kissing the black stone at the corner of the Kabah, running between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah hills, drinking water from the holy Zam Zam well, visiting Mount Arafat, taking part in the 'stoning of the devil' ritual, sacrificing animals and then tonsuring their heads.
In the past, going on a Haj pilgrimage used to be highly time-consuming and arduous. Those who left for the pilgrimage, used to be given a grand farewell by all the people of the native village or town. People used to complete their worldly duties before starting their onward journey. Even though the pilgrimage has become a lot easier now because of the improvements in communication and transportation systems besides infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia, every year, hundreds of people lose their lives either during travel or after reaching their destination and while taking part in the rituals, due to the collapse of ramps due to over-crowding, during the stoning the devil ritual, etc.
The pilgrims will return between December 7 and 12 this year. Those who come back from the pilgrimage distribute holy water from the holy Zam Zam well and dry dates brought from Mecca. Those who complete their Haj pilgrimage are addressed respectfully as Hajis. Muslims firmly believe that those who have undertaken the pilgrimage get rid of all their sins and become as pure as the newborn child. Haj pilgrimage is the only one that is a global level ritual undertaken by the Muslims, where the principles of universal brotherhood and total trust in the principle of Single God are held high. The pilgrimage denotes sacrifice and total surrender to Allah. As per the scriptures, the pilgrims during the period of the pilgrimage, should never lose patience, even when faced with trying circumstances. The pilgrimage is neither a platform to exhibit affluence nor a fun. It is a pilgrimage, which is purely meant to worship the Allah, to please the Lord and get rid of one’s accumulated sins.
Haj Coverage on Daijiworld: