Ingushetia has increased its quota for the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Islam in Saudi Arabia for 2024 by 12%, allowing more than 1.4 thousand residents of the region to undertake the pilgrimage. This information was provided by Ruslan Miziev, the Minister for External Relations, National Policy, Press, and Information of Ingushetia, to TASS.
"We initially requested 1.6 thousand places for Hajj, but were allocated only 1.3 thousand. However, due to the high demand, the region requested the Hajj commission to increase the quota. As a result, 1,464 people will now be able to make the pilgrimage," Miziev explained.
The minister also announced that direct flights from Ingushetia to Saudi Arabia and back will be organized for the pilgrims. "The republic has agreed with the same airline as last year: Fly Baghdad will organize direct flights from Magas airport to Medina, and in the opposite direction - from Jeddah to Ingushetia. This initiative is under the guidance of the head of the republic, Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov, and we will do everything possible to ensure that pilgrims can safely and comfortably travel to Saudi Arabia and return," Miziev added.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims to Mecca and Medina. The main rites of the Hajj, which include the pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Islam in Mecca and Medina, are performed on the day of standing on Mount Arafat, followed by the days of the largest Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha. In 2024, these events are scheduled to take place between June 15 and 19.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Adam Sagov/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS