More than 4,300 Indian women apply for Hajj
More than 4,300 Indian women pilgrims will perform Hajj without a male guardian this year, the largest number since reforms were introduced.
Saudi Arabia announced in October last year that women over 45 are no longer required, when going on pilgrimage to the kingdom, to travel with a male companion, or mahram – a blood relative with whom marriage is not permissible.
India has more than 200 million Muslims and, every year, tens of thousands go on the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
More than 175,000 places have been allotted for devotees from India this year to perform the annual pilgrimage.
As many as 4,314 women have applied to make the pilgrimage on their own. This is the first time India’s Ministry of Minority Affairs has received such a large pool of applications from women pilgrims.
The ministry had earlier said that single women, as well as women in groups, could apply for the pilgrimage.
The Indian consulate in Jeddah will help to make separate living arrangements for women travelling alone, the ministry said. The applications will be cleared on priority this week, a statement said.
New Delhi has scrapped a “VIP quota” for Hajj, saying this would help open up places for more pilgrims.
About 500 seats were previously allocated by India’s Hajj Committee to people in top constitutional and executive posts each Hajj season.
The ministry has also set up 25 departure points and said that it is setting up health desks at airports to co-ordinate the health needs of pilgrims.
A team of clinicians will be sent during the first week of April to help provide medical services to pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Arafat and Mina, the ministry said.