Pics: Joshwa D'souza
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Aug 3: The first batch of Hajj pilgrims will embark on holy pilgrimage to Madeena on Thursday, August 4. The pilgrims were handed over their passports in a ceremony at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday August 3.
The Hajj Services and the urban development minister Roshan Baig handed over the passports.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I urge every pilgrim to offer Dua (prayer) in Madeena for the peace in our state and the country. All of us must keep in mind that none of the religions teach violence. The terrorists of ISIS and others who are spreading violence in the name of Islam do not belong to Islam. We belong to the religion which advocates peace. We must pray that the menace of terrorism is abolished from the world.”
“Before 1995 there were only four Hajj embarkment points in the country namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The people of Karnataka had to go to Mumbai and had to stay there for many days without proper stay and food and then go to Sharjah. The then civil aviation minister increased the number of embarkment points and hence all of you have been able to go to the Hajj pilgrimage from Mangaluru,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the forest minister and in-charge minister of Dakshina Kannada, Ramanatha Rai said, “Hajj is a devotional tour and even the richest of the society are not able to take up the pilgrimage. This is a tour which requires the blessings of the God. Even though we do not have the Hajj bhavan here we are privileged to embark the tour from here. I pray to God to bless each of us.”
The minister for food and civil supplies UT Khader said, “Every Muslim dreams to go to Hajj pilgrimage. There can be some problems during the course of the pilgrimage. I request everyone to excuse the inconvenience and pray for the healthy and safe return of everyone.”
MLA of Mangaluru North constituency Moideen Bava, MLA of Moodbidri constituency Abhayachandra Jain, Mayor of MCC Harinath, MUDA chairman Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present on the occasion.
The first batch of 138 pilgrims will leave for the holy pilgrimage of Mecca and Medinah tomorrow at 7 am. Five batches consisting of 630 pilgrims from five districts namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Kodagu, Chikkamagluru will be leaving for Saudi via Mangaluru international airport. Out of these 406 are from the Dakshina Kannada.