HYDERABAD: The first batch of Telangana Haj pilgrims departed for the trip on Wednesday from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in this city to the sounds of "Talbiyah." At 10.15 a.m., a special Vistara Airlines flight took 150 pilgrims to Jeddah, said the Telangana State Haj Committee.

The pilgrims started their journey with enthusiasm amid chanting of 'Talbiyah', a special prayer invoked during the Haj.
Mohammed Mahmood Ali, the state's home minister, and Mohammed Saleem, the head of the state's haj committee, had earlier flagged off the buses transporting the pilgrims at the city's Haj House. Numerous family members, acquaintances, and well-wishers bade the pilgrims farewell in tearful scenes at the Haj House. About 7,000 pilgrims would leave from Hyderabad this year, including those from a few districts in the adjacent states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

Haj House served as the pilgrims' point of embarkation as it had in previous years. The Haj Committee organised all of the accommodations and meals for the pilgrims who travelled there from different Telangana districts.

Services including vaccination, passport distribution, customs clearance, luggage screening, and currency exchange were all offered under one roof by various departments. The Haj House also provided the pilgrims with boarding permits. 

Pilgrims were arriving at Haj House from various Telangana districts and adjoining states in preparation for their next destination. The Haj camp will be open for 18 days starting on June 5. Up until June 22, Vistara Airlines will run a total of 46 Haj flights from Hyderabad. From June 8, there will be three Haj flights every day.

Hajj is one of the most significant and sacred religious pilgrimages in Islam. It is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it. During Hajj, millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca to perform a series of rituals that commemorate the actions of the Prophet Muhammad and other prophets before him. The pilgrimage takes place over several days and follows a prescribed set of rituals.

The pilgrimage begins with the donning of the ihram, a special garment that symbolizes purity and equality. Pilgrims then proceed to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, which houses the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. The Kaaba is believed to have been built by the Prophet Abraham and is considered the house of Allah.

Hajj is a time of immense spiritual significance and unity for Muslims worldwide. It emphasizes the principles of equality, humility, and devotion to Allah. The experience of Hajj is considered transformative and is believed to cleanse the soul and bring about spiritual renewal for those who undertake it.

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