28 Haj pilgrims from Manipur started returning home safely from the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
According to a pilgrim who landed at Imphal International Airport yesterday afternoon, altogether 319 persons left Imphal for Saudi Arabia on August 19 and 20 this year for Haj pilgrimage which was coordinated by Haj committee Manipur. The remaining 291 pilgrims are on their way to home and many of them have reached Guwahati he added.
Haj is an annual destination for Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by male adults who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
Mention may be made that this year altogether 769 Muslim pilgrims reportedly lost their lives in a Haj stampede near the holy city of Mecca on September 24. According to the report, India has lost 58 national last month while 78 are said to be still missing .
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk