Mangaluru : Mangalore International Airport saw the state’s first batch of 134 Haj Pilgrims leave Mangaluru for Madina in Saudi Arabia through Flynas Airlineson Sunday. 666 Pilgrims on a 40day pilgimage in the next five days, will leave for the holy city.

Passports and fruits, were given to all by the MLA of the Dakshina Kannada, among, district incharge Minister B Ramanath Rai, Youth Service, Sports and Fisheries Minister K Abhaychandra Jain, Health Minister U T Khader, MLAs J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, Vasantha Bangera, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred were present and wished bon voyage to the pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Kodagu districts.

Khazi Bekala Ibrahim Musliyar requested the pilgrims not to forget their motherland and should “Pray for peace and harmony of the country, during the visit to such holy places,” he said.Health Minister U T Khader said probelms during the pilgrimage will have to be solved gently and with love and kind words and for every Muslim it is a dream to go to Madina..

Through the Central Hajj Committee, Vice Chairman M M Mohammad said that around 5,000 people would go on Hajj this time. As we all know number of pilgrims has been decreaed from the country and in all 1,00,020 pilgrims only will make it to Madina this time since major construction activity is going on.and it was decided that 20 percent of the quota be cut from countries. Also private operator about 34,000 people will go on Hajj.

Cost of accommodations available, will be Rs 1.80 lakh and Rs 2.13 lakh respectively for Azizia and Green, The Committee has provided a telephone numbers, to be contacted by pilgrims in case of any problem and Indian food will also be served in the catering facility arranged for pilgrims. he said.

Central Hajj Committee Vice Chairman also said that if State government handed over the land in the district for the proposed Hajj Ghar project, in six months it will be completed and the committee is ready with Rs 1.5 crore for the purpose. Minister U T Khader said that 1.95 acres of land had been identified for the project and transferred to the minority department.