LUCKNOW: For the year 2023, the world’s first flight for Haj left with 288 pilgrims on Sunday afternoon at 12 pm from Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International airport, said Uttar Pradesh state Haj committee.
Once flight lands at Medina airport, the pilgrims are expected to be welcomed by Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, crown prince of Saudi Arabia, civil aviation ministry, Haj ministry and others, read the statement issued by the government of Uttar Pradesh.
This was also the first group of pilgrims to leave from Uttar Pradesh for Haj after Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Haj committee.
Lucknow DM Surya Pal Gangwar with Saudi airlines staff bids adieu to Haj pilgrims at Lucknow international airport.
Before the flight took off, UP Haj committee chairperson Mohsin Raza, state minister for minority welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari and Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli flagged off the group in a bus from Maulana Ali Mia memorial Haj house towards airport.
A total of two flights left with nearly 570 pilgrims.
According to the state government, around 14,114 pilgrims will depart from Lucknow to Medina between May 21 to June 6. Among the pilgrims, around 60 Haj sevak will also travel to assist the pilgrims in their journey. Around 4,000 women pilgrims will also travel for Haj this year from Lucknow.
Speaking on the occasion, minister Danish Azad Ansari said, "For the first time after the pandemic, such a large number of pilgrims are going for Haj. The state government, in coordination with various stakeholders, has ensured comfort and safety of each pilgrim. The CM Yogi Adityanath too have conveyed his wishes for the journey of pilgrims."
Before boarding the flight for Medina, pilgrims at the CCSIA were welcomed with flower petal shower organized by representatives of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Airlines, customs, immigration and UP Haj committee members.
Speaking to TOI, SP Tiwari, the secretary of UP haj Committee said, "The Saudi Arabia authorities informed us, that flight which left at 12 noon from Lucknow with 288 pilgrims, will be the first flight across the world this year to land Medina airport, where Crown Prince and other officials will welcome them."
By the time this report was filed, the SVA3891 flight with 149 men and 139 women had entered Oman airspace. The flight had 150 pilgrims from Lucknow and 94 from Barabanki district.
The second flight SVA3895 left with 282 pilgrims including 151 men and 131 women left Lucknow airport at 3.05pm with 85 pilgrims from Barabanki, 61 from Rae Bareli, 49 from Lucknow and 46 from Unnao district.
Total 45 flights will operate to ferry over 14,000 pilgrims till June 6 from Lucknow. Pilgrims coming from outside Lucknow are being put at Maulana Ali Mia memorial Haj house, Sarojini Nagar, where district administration has provided food, water, bed, medical and documentation related facilities.
