Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS) 

Mangaluru, Sep 1: The first group of 157 pilgrims who undertook the holy Haj pilgrimage from the city through the Haj committee of the government reached the international airport in city by Air India Express flight at 3.33 pm on the afternoon of Saturday, August 31. Haj managing committee welcomed the pilgrims at the airport. 

This was the fourth team that left from Mangaluru. Ashraf Hajee Nelyadi, who reached the exit door of the airport as the first person was welcomed by Yenepoya Mohammed Kunhi, president of Haj managing committee. Vishnumurthy Nayak of Anam Prem team, Mangaluru division offered rose and water to all the pilgrims. 

Chief secretary of Haj managing committee, Mumtaz Ali Krishnapura, vice-president C Mahmood Hajee, treasurer Hanif Hajee, joint secretary Hanif Hajee, Rafik Hajee Kodaje, media secretary Rashid Vittal, Razak Hajee Parlya, Hanif Hill Top Bajpe, Basheer Hajee, Ahmed Bava Padil, Fazal Hajee, Nasir Luckystar, Wakf officer Abubakkar Hajee, Fairoz Pasha and Muviar Pasha of Haj committee, Sunil Bhat of Air India, Hamid Vittal of airport authority, Abdurahman Mogarpane and Nooruddin Salmara were present. 

The second group of 148 pilgrims arrived at the airport at 7.59 pm. MLA U T Khader, former minister Ramanath Rai, former MLA Mohiuddin Bava, MLC Harish Kumar, district youth Congress president Mithun Rai and others were present to welcome the pilgrims.