DUSHANBE, September 24, 2012, Asia-Plus — The commission for organization of Hajj-2012 met at the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan on September 21.
The meeting participants reportedly included representatives from president’s office, ministry of health and the state committee for national security.
An official source at the CRA says the meeting heard reports on the work done to organize this year’s Hajj.
The CRA head Abdurahim Kholiqov reportedly ordered to install Tajik national flags in hotels at which Tajik pilgrims will stay. Besides documentary about Tajikistan both in Arabic and English will be demonstrated in those hotels, the source said.
The first group of Tajik pilgrims is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on September 29. 23 flights will be operated to Jeddah from Dushanbe and ten flights will be operated to Jeddah from Khujand, the capital of the northern Sughd province. Tajik air carriers Tajik Air and Somon Air will carry Tajik pilgrims to Jeddah.
We will recall that the CRA designed a new Hajj uniform last year; men don two-piece suits, while women wear long-sleeved dresses complete with headscarves. The Tajik Hajj uniform is embroidered with the country”s symbols.
This year, the Hajj uniform will also be distributed to the country’s prospective pilgrims.
Saudi officials allocated Tajikistan 6,000 places for this year”s Hajj. In 2011, the price to go on the Hajj was 3,448 U.S. dollars, but it has risen this year to 3,546 U.S. dollars.
