Mecca : Lakhs of worshippers from around the world journey to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca to kickstart the biggest Haj pilgrimage since the Covid- 19 pandemic.
This time around an estimated one million people are expected to attend the Islam’s most revered ritual at Masjid al-Haram(Grand Mosque) in the holy city of Mecca. India has 79,362 worshippers leaving for the Haj.
Saudi Arabia eased several Covid restrictions last month, including wearing of masks. In April of this year, Saudi allowed one million visitors for Haj pilgrimage as against just a few thousand domestic pilgrims allowed last year.
Worshippers around the world can perform Haj provided they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and no older than 65.
The Ministry of Haj and Umrah in a statement said the pilgrims from abroad must additionally furnish a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate.
