In Uttar Pradesh, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of applications submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee for the pilgrimage to Makkah this year, primarily attributed to a substantial increase in the associated expenses.
Rampur, among other districts, has seen a stark reduction, with only 304 individuals applying this year compared to 1,249 in 2023. Moradabad witnessed a decline from 2,702 forms in the previous year to 644, while Amroha and Bijnor experienced drops from 788 to 206 and 1,050 to 309, respectively. Sambhal recorded a decrease from 712 forms in 2023 to 214 this year, according to reports on Sunday.
The traditionally sought-after Haj Committee, known for facilitating affordable journeys, has suffered a decline in popularity due to a considerable increase in travel expenses.
Until two years ago, the Haj Committee provided financial assistance of 2,100 Saudi riyals (approximately 46,000 Indian rupees) to each pilgrim, helping cover essential expenses. However, this practice was discontinued last year, causing the overall cost for Haj pilgrims to exceed 400,000 Indian rupees. The Haj Committee has not disclosed the fare for the upcoming 2024 pilgrimage as of now.
The dwindling number of applications prompted the Haj Committee to extend the form submission deadline to January 15. Despite the extension, the response has been tepid, with only 304 forms submitted in Rampur as of January 12, constituting a quarter of the applications received in the previous year.
While the reasons behind this significant drop in applications remain undisclosed, the community awaits the Haj Committee’s announcement of the 2024 fare, hoping for a more accessible and affordable pilgrimage.
