Srinagar: From 35,000 in 2017 to as low as over 4100 applications this year, the number of Haj pilgrims continues to dwindle in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the official details, a total of 4,100 people from Jammu and Kashmir applied for Haj 2025, out of which 3,601 were confirmed in the first list, with 21 more added under the Mahram quota, taking the total number of pilgrims proceeding for Haj to 3,622.
Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, Executive Officer, J&K Haj Committee, told a local news agency that all 3,622 selected pilgrims have completed the both the first and second instalment payments.
He said that as per the quota allocation, India has received a total of 1,75,025 slots for Haj 2025, out of which 70% (1,22,550) is assigned to the Haj Committee of India (HCOI).
He said that Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated 4.89% of India’s quota, along with an additional 2,000 slots, bringing the total to approximately 7,981.
As per the details available, additionally, 14 private Haj Group Operators (HGOs) in Jammu and Kashmir have been allotted a total quota of 750 for this year.
The Haj pilgrimage journey from Jammu and Kashmir is expected to take place from the last week of April.
Notably, following a repeated low response due to rising costs for pilgrimage for Hajj applications this year in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities were left with no option but to extend dates for the Hajj 2025 applications.
Despite multiple extensions for submitting Hajj 2025 forms, Jammu and Kashmir’s Hajj Committee has just remained with 41,00 applications, a decrease of more than 48% from the previous year.
According to the official data, 2024 received 8,147 Hajj application forms against the allocated quota of 8,200.
However, as per the officials, 2023 has also recorded the highest-ever pilgrimage with over 12,000 pilgrims embarking on the holy journey from Jammu and Kashmir.
Official data reveals that 35,215 people planned to embark on the pilgrimage in 2017, followed by 32,330 applications from various districts in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018.
Hajj authorities received 21,566 applications for the pilgrimages in 2019, with 2020 witnessing no applications owing to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. (KNO)