Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has advised Indian Haj pilgrims to carry home Zamzam (water from the Zamzam well at Masjid al-Haram in Mecca) canisters that are authorised by the Saudi Arabian administration.
The advisory, which has been passed on to the Haj Committee of India, is said to be against the backdrop of the unpleasant scenes at the Saudi Arabian airports last year. Departing pilgrims have been instructed to carry Zamzam cans produced by the government. These cans should be wrapped in a plastic cover and then packed in a cardboard box with a logo of the government company on it.
Tour operators have been asked to send the five-litre can by return flights at the time of arrival. Last year, pilgrims were seen carrying with them luggage bags of different sizes in the buses that were transporting them from the residences violating the baggage rules. They were also carrying with them Zamzam cans that are not allowed.
Air India has already banned the carrying of Zamzam cans on its narrow-bodied aircraft to ensure flight safety. However, the restriction is not applicable on wide-bodied aircraft.
The Haj Committee of India provides baggage tags to the pilgrims at the embarkation points in India for easier identification and delivery of their bags. The Consul General of India at Jeddah has developed a mobile application offering details to the Hajis. From this year, an online survey form has been introduced in this App to get feedback on the Haj service.
