HYDERABAD: The Haj portal has been reopened to facilitate arrangements for approximately 10,000 additional Indian pilgrims, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday. The portal has been made accessible specifically for Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGO).
The Ministry advised CHGOs to complete their processes without any further delay. Despite repeated warnings, several CHGOs in India had failed to finalise contracts related to Mina camps, accommodation, and travel arrangements, the Ministry noted.
In light of these lapses, the central government intervened and held discussions with the Saudi Ministry of Haj. Following negotiations, Saudi authorities agreed to reopen the portal to accommodate the pending arrangements for 10,000 pilgrims.
Earlier, the Saudi government had cancelled the zones that were previously allocated to private operators in Mina, causing confusion and concern among around 52,000 Indian pilgrims.
India’s annual Haj quota, allocated by Saudi Arabia, currently stands at 1.75 lakh pilgrims for 2025. Of this, 70 percent are sent through the Haj Committee, while the remaining 30 percent go through private Haj Group Organisers.
To address ongoing concerns and oversee preparations, Union Minority Affairs Secretary Chandrasekhar Kumar visited Jeddah last week. The Haj pilgrimage for this year is expected to take place on June 4 or June 9, depending on the sighting of the moon.
The pilgrimage begins in the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and is based on the lunar cycle.
