When liza Mehwish from Dhanbad boards in flight bound to Zeddah from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi on Tuesday with her parents, she would be completely unaware with the fact that what she is going to achieve in just one year of her life has kept Abdul Aziz from Ranchi sitting somewhere around her for 81 long years.
First flight for Haj this year from State would take off on Tuesday from Birsa Munda Airport at 11:30 night. The direct flight to Jeddah, especially for Haj only, would carry 301 pilgrims including an infant (1) on its first trip to a pilgrimage destination which remains a dream of at least once in a lifetime for followers of Islam.
“We have taken all kinds of arrangements into consideration for pilgrims on Ranchi airport. A programme for them at airport on Tuesday is also scheduled where they will be briefed finally and will be greeted for happy Haj,” said Jharkhand State Haj Committee Member and Spokesperson Khursheed Hassan Roomi on Monday.
Out of 301 pilgrims lucky enough to catch the first flight on Tuesday, 287 are from Ranchi district itself along with seven from Dhanbad and three from Hazaribagh and East Singhbhoom each. Roomi said that Welfare and Minorities Department Minister louis Marandi, senior Congress leader and ex-Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Jharkhand Minorities Commission Chairperson Kamal Khan and others were remain present to see-off the pilgrims. He added that Chief Minister Raghubar Das is also expected to see-off pilgrims if his schedule allowed him on the day.
Khan said that despite gross difficulties, Haj remained a once in a lifetime festival for Muslims around the world. “I tried couple of times and failed to make at least once to Haj, as it seems He wants me to wait for some more time. But I wish I could make it soon,” said Khan. He added that the government and Haj Committee efforts have made going to Haj relatively easier and 40-45 days journey has not remained as difficult as it used to be couple of decades ago.
Notably, 3163 pilgrims from State this year have been put in the Azizya category out of total 19,734 from country, which has made their stay farther from Haramshareef (pilgrimage spot) unlikely previous years when they used to remain in Green category which provided residing facility close to Haramshareef.