CM flags off first batch at Srinagar Airport
Emotional send-off at Haj House, Bemina
Srinagar, April 18: The first batch of 431 pilgrims for this year’s Haj pilgrimage left on Saturday from Jammu and Kashmir for Saudi Arabia, officials of Haj committee said. The pilgrims, including 230 males and 201 females, left in three flights from the Srinagar International Airport.
Authorities had made all arrangements of foreign exchange, documentation and baggage handling at the Haj House in Bemina area of Srinagar city.
The pilgrims left in special buses from the Haj House for the airport as hundreds of families members, relatives and friends bid them farewell.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah bid farewell to the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Srinagar International Airport, marking the formal commencement of Haj operations 2026 from Jammu & Kashmir.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister interacted with the pilgrims, extending warm greetings and wishing them a safe, peaceful and spiritually fulfilling journey.
He expressed hope that the sacred pilgrimage would reinforce the values of compassion, unity and brotherhood.
Speaking to the pilgrims, the Chief Minister prayed for the successful completion of Haj and sought divine blessings for lasting peace, harmony and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as the well-being of its people.
As part of the first phase of operations, three flights carrying 431 pilgrims were scheduled to depart today from Srinagar International Airport.
In total, 28 flights will operate between April 18 and May 5, 2026, to facilitate the pilgrimage.
This year, 4,706 pilgrims from Jammu & Kashmir will perform Haj. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Director Airport Srinagar, senior civil and police officials, members of the J&K Haj Committee, Airport Authority officials, and representatives of concerned departments were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo along with Senior Superintendent of Police, Sandeep Chakraborty visited Haj House, Bemina where the first batch of Haj pilgrims left in buses for Srinagar International Airport. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, SDM West, Irfan Bahadur, Executive Officer, J&K Haj Committee, Dr. Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, SP West Imtiyaz, CMO Srinagar and other senior officers of civil and police, besides members of Hajj Committee and other concerned were present on the occasion to see off the pilgrims.
Interacting with the pilgrims, the Deputy Commissioner congratulated them and extended his best wishes for a safe and smooth journey, while the DC along with SSP welcomed the pilgrims and wished for their safe and seamless journey and well-being throughout.
This year, 4,764 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to perform the holiest Muslim pilgrimage of Haj.
Haj in Islam is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every adult Muslim must make at least once in his or her lifetime. The Haj is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
The pilgrimage rite begins on the seventh day of Dhu-al-Ḥijjah (the last month of the Islamic year) and ends on the 12th day. The Haj is incumbent on all Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the pilgrimage, but only if their absence will not place hardships on their family.
A person may perform the haj by proxy, appointing a relative or friend going on the pilgrimage to “stand in” for him or her.
The pattern of pilgrimage rites was established by the Prophet Muhammad, but variations have arisen in it, and the stringent formal itinerary is not strictly adhered to by the mass of pilgrims, who frequently visit the various Meccan sites out of their proper order.
