Religion

Religion

First group of Azerbaijani pilgrims leave for Hajj today

02 September 2016 04:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Mubariz Aslanov– APA. The first group of the Azerbaijani pilgrims has left for Hajj today, APA reports.

The plane carrying the first group of Azerbaijani pilgrims wishing to make their Hajj pilgrimage took off from the Heydar Aliyev international airport.

The Hajj pilgrims are set to depart from Azerbaijan on September 3, 4 and 5.

On 1 April 2016, the CMO started the process of registration for Hajj pilgrimage.

The return home will be on September 19. Azerbaijan has set a quota of 1,500 pilgrims for the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage, then this number reduced to 1040, after increased 1050.

For the first time, Azerbaijani pilgrims this year will be able to go on Hajj pilgrimage with a biometric passport alone.

2016 Hajj packages from Azerbaijan will be $3,500 and 4,000 respectively.

This year, Azerbaijani pilgrims are offered two Hajj packages – $3500 ($4,700 in 2015) for accommodation in a hotel with weak conditions, where meals are served twice a day and $4,500 ($5,750 in 2015) for accommodation in a hotel with better conditions, where various kinds of meals are served.

Last year 2,400 pilgrims went to Hajj from Azerbaijan. 3 of them died in Mecca and were buried there. Last year’s Hajj also stood out with an accident that claimed a vast number of lives.

The CMO is the only body authorized to receive documents for Hajj pilgrimage.