KHUJAND, October 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — The first group of Hajj pilgrims from the northern Sughd province numbering 187 people is leaving for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today afternoon, Mahkam Mirkamolov, leading specialist with the Committee for Religious Affairs (CRA)’s office in Sughd province, said.
According to him, the second group of Hajj pilgrims including residents of the city of Chkalovsk and Zafarobod, Mastchoh and Jabborrasoulov districts will fly to Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
We will recall that Saudi Arabia allocated Tajikistan 5,500 places for this year”s Hajj and that quota includes 1,442 pilgrims from Sughd province.
In 2010, the price to go on the hajj was $3,191, but it has risen this year to $3,448. The State Committee on Religious Affairs says the increase is the result of a weaker dollar and higher fuel prices. This year, the authorities have introduced special clothing marked with the national flag for Tajik Hajj pilgrims.
This year”s Hajj ends with Eid al-Adha on November 6.
