More than 370 citizens RB will leave for hajj

A meeting, devoted to sending pilgrims from Bashkiria to the forthcoming hajj, has taken place in Ufa on Thursday, September 6, with participation of the chairman of the council for state and inter-confessional relations under the President RB Vyacheslaw Pyatkov, representatives of Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights in RB, Ministry of health protection RB, Bashkir customs service, the Central Clerical Muslim Dept of Russia, the Central Clerical Muslim Dept RB and the tourist companies, specializing in hajj organization.

“Our main aim is to make maximally comfortable conditions for our pilgrims” – Vyacheslaw Pyatkov said – “We won’t tolerate the last year situation when through the fault of two tourist companies pilgrims failed to visit the holy places”.

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia will receive permissive documents within the period between August 25 and October 3. Pilgrims will be delivered to Mecca by land and air from September 17 to October 19 and back – from October 30 to December 14. Two tourist operators on the territory RB will be responsible for hajj organization: charitable hajj fund (from the Central Clerical Muslim Dept of Russia) and “Ural-Hajj” (from Russian Muftis Council). The companies had to place detailed information about the forthcoming hajj-2012, including the cost of tourist vouchers, on their sites before June 1.

In a whole more than three thousand quotes is allocated for Russian pilgrims. More than 370 people will leave for hajj from Bashkortostan. Pilgrims will be delivered from Ufa to Saudi Arabia mainly by air through Istanbul. The cost of one tourist voucher varies from 100 thousand to 144 thousand rubles this year.

All pilgrims have to pass obligatory vaccination. Every group will be accompanied with experienced instructors and qualified medics. For convenience and as to avoid any problems all pilgrims are recommended to provide themselves with electronic bank cards.

“All problems should be solved instantly without delays” – Vyacheslaw Pyatkov said in conclusion – “Let’s help our people to make hajj with dignity”.