Mumbai: The online application process for Haj 2021 has started from today with Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announcing Haj 2021 with significant changes keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic.
Naqvi said that Haj 2021 is scheduled for June-July 2021, and the entire Haj process is being held according to the necessary guidelines issued by the Saudi Arabia Government and the Government of India in view of Corona Pandemic to ensure health and well-being of the people in India and Saudi Arabia. While announcing Haj 2021 at Mumbai's Haj House today, Naqvi said that the national-international Protocol Guidelines due to Pandemic Position will be implemented and followed strictly during the Haj 2021.
The Haj 2021 process has been chalked out after deliberations among Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Haj Committee of India, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and India’s Consul General in Jeddah and other agencies keeping in view all aspects of the pandemic challenges.
The Union Minister said that the entire Haj travel process has been done with significant changes in view of the pandemic. These include accommodation, the period of stay of pilgrims, transportation, health and other facilities both in India and Saudi Arabia.
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The minister said that all the necessary guidelines for Haj 2021 amid Pandemic position from the Saudi Arabia Government will be implemented strictly. He said that here may be changes in age criteria for performing Haj due to the Corona pandemic. He further said that each pilgrim will have to undergo Corona test 72 hours before Haj journey as per prevailing international air travel protocol and each pilgrim will have to submit a PCR test certificate issued by an approved laboratory with a negative result before the journey to Saudi Arabia.
Keeping in view the pandemic, the embarkation points for Haj 2021 have also been reduced to 10. Earlier, there were 21 Haj embarkation points across the country. For Haj 2021, the 10 embarkation points are - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Srinagar.
Royal Vice Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Mumbai, Mohammad Abdul Karim Al-Enazi; senior officials of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs; Haj Committee of India CEO M. A. Khan and other dignitaries were also present the press briefing.
The last date of applying for Haj 2021 is 10th December 2020. People can apply online, offline and through Haj Mobile App.
