CM prays for successful completion
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 18: The annual Hajj pilgrimage from J&K commenced today with the departure of the first batch of 432 pilgrims for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, from Srinagar International Airport.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The pilgrims, who had assembled at Haj House Bemina earlier, were transported to the airport amid coordinated arrangements by authorities, marking the formal start of this year’s pilgrimage from the Union Territory.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah bid farewell to the pilgrims at Srinagar International Airport.
He interacted with the departing pilgrims, extended greetings, and wished them a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Addressing the pilgrims, Omar expressed hope that the pilgrimage would reinforce values of compassion, unity and brotherhood.
He also prayed for the successful completion of Hajj and sought divine blessings for peace, harmony and prosperity in J&K.
As part of the first phase, three flights carrying 432 pilgrims were scheduled to depart from Srinagar. In total, 28 flights will operate between April 18 and May 5 to facilitate the pilgrimage.
This year, over 4,700 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are set to perform Hajj.
According to officials, the flights scheduled for the day included QP-7521 with reporting time between 6:00 am and 6:30 am, QP-7520 between 8:15 am and 8:45 am, and QP-7519 between 9:00 am and 9:30 am.
A total of 432 pilgrims were scheduled for departure, including 145 on the first flight, 143 on the second, and 144 on the third.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at Haj House Bemina as pilgrims and their families gathered for farewell, describing the journey as a long-awaited spiritual milestone.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad, one of the pilgrims, said the moment was overwhelming after years of waiting.
“This is an emotional moment for everyone, including me. I cannot express my happiness. I have been waiting for this day for long and today it has finally come,” he said.
Bashir Ahmad, another pilgrim from Srinagar, termed the pilgrimage a lifelong aspiration.
“I cannot express in words; Hajj is the wish of every Muslim. I have been waiting. I will pray for Kashmir for sustained peace and prosperity,” he said.
Ghulam Qadir said he felt humbled and grateful. “I cannot believe that the Almighty has chosen me for this journey. I will pray for easing the hardships faced by people in Kashmir as well as in the country,” he said.
Women pilgrims also described the journey as the fulfilment of a cherished dream. Fehmida from Pulwama said she would pray for guidance and relief for people across the world.
Family members and well-wishers were seen bidding emotional farewells, offering prayers before departure.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo flagged off the first convoy from Haj House and said all arrangements had been put in place in a coordinated manner.
“This is the first convoy of the 2026 Hajj. All the line departments had ensured the necessary arrangements; we want to have our contribution in their journey,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar G V Sundeep said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the pilgrims.
“Srinagar Police has made comprehensive security arrangements for Hajj pilgrims. We are ensuring that this pilgrimage remains hassle-free. We pray that their journey is smooth and they reach safely,” he said.
Officials said that of the total pilgrims this year, 3,990—including 323 from Ladakh—will depart via Srinagar, while around 1,000 will travel through Delhi and about 50 via Mumbai.
Nearly 800 pilgrims are from the Jammu region, while the majority are from Kashmir, with Srinagar district contributing the highest number.
Authorities added that transportation, security and logistical support systems were in place to facilitate smooth departures as the annual pilgrimage gets underway.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
