A total of 1,36,020 pilgrims, including 2,453 from Tamil Nadu, will undertake the Haj pilgrimage this year.
While 1,00,020 will perform the pilgrimage through programmes organised by the Haj Committee of India, the remaining 36,000 will undertake the journey using the services of private tour operators.
A. Aboobucker, vice chairman, Haj Committee of India, Ministry of External Affairs, told The Hindu over phone that a total of 93 pilgrims will be undertaking the pilgrimage from Puducherry and another 48 from Andaman Islands this year.
Chennai is the lone embarkation point in Tamil Nadu to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Air India will operate eight flight services from Chennai to Jeddah for transporting pilgrims of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman Islands.
The first Jeddah-bound flight will leave Chennai on August 20. Air India will operate two flights a day from Chennai to Jeddah — on August 21, 22 and 23 and the last flight will leave Chennai on August 24. About 340 pilgrims will travel in each of the flights.
The pilgrims embarking from Chennai will spend about 44 to 45 days in the holy cities of Makkah and Madina while performing the Haj.
Chennai is the lone embarkation point
in Tamil Nadu to transport pilgrims
to Saudi Arabia
