KULOB, July 18, 2011, Asia-Plus — Some 120 residents of Kulob are expected to perform the Hajj this year, Kholmirzo Qalandarov, leading specialist with the Kulob department on religious affairs, told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon.
“We have not yet received the Hajj quota for this year,” said Qalandarov, “But last year, Kulob received the quota of 118 persons for Hajj and we think that Kulob will receive the Hajj quota of 118 persons this year as well.”
According to him, the department on religious affairs has received Hajj applications from 95 persons to date. The process of receiving the Hajj applications will probably last until August 15,” Qalandarov said.
He also noted that two local entrepreneurs had decided to pay all the expenses of Hajj for two elderly people from Kulob. We will recall that the last year’s cost to perform Hajj was 3,191 U.S. dollars.
“We are currently considering the issue of opening of direct air route from Kulob to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for pilgrims,” Qalandarov added.
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God.
The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year.
Pilgrims generally travel to Hajj in groups, as an expression of unity. Some airlines have special packages for Muslims going to Mecca. Ships also take pilgrims to Mecca so they can perform Hajj.
Upon arrival in Mecca the pilgrim, now known as a Hajji, performs a series of ritual acts symbolic of the lives of Abraham and his wife Hagar. The acts also symbolize the solidarity of Muslims worldwide.
