The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Direct Haj flight from Rajasthan takes off

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Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

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Other States - Rajasthan

Direct Haj flight from Rajasthan takes off

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JAN. 11. The first ever direct Haj flight from Rajasthan left here for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia with 199 pilgrims on Monday. The Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, flagged off the Indian Airlines flight at Sanganer airport.

A 111-year-old woman, Akhtar Jehan - accompanied by her son and daughter-in-law - was among the passengers who went for Haj. Ms. Raje met all the pilgrims individually and wished them a successful pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and a safe return.

Ms. Raje called upon the pilgrims to pray for good rains in the State as well as for peace and prosperity. A large number of relatives and friends of the Haj pilgrims gave them a warm send-off on the occasion.

The Haj flights will continue till January 16 and about 4,000 people from across the State will go for this year's pilgrimage.

Among others, the Chairman of the State Haj Committee, Salim Kagzi, the State Transport and Sports Minister, Mohammed Yunus Khan, the Rajasthan Madrassa Board's Chairman, Mushtaq Ansari, and the Jaipur Mayor, Ashok Parnami, were present on the occasion to extend good wishes to the pilgrims.

Ms. Raje later visited the Haj Reporting Point at Rampura village, near Sanganer, and saw the arrangements and facilities for the pilgrims. She scanned the religious literature and guidelines issued to pilgrims at the centre.

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