Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated Haj House for facilitating accommodation for Haj pilgrims of Odisha.
The Chief Minister also expressed good wishes to the Haj pilgrims.
The inaugural of Haj House was followed by felicitation ceremony of Haj Pilgrims 2019. The function was also graced by Odisha Minorities Welfare Minister Jagannath Sarka at Jaydev Bhawan here.
A total of 653 Haj pilgrims of Odisha are selected to proceed to Saudi Arab (Mecca, Madina) through State Haj Committee this year. Of the 653 Haj pilgrims, 386 are male and 267 are female pilgrims, said a press note issued by the State Government.
In order to help and guide the Haj pilgrims of our State at Saudi Arab, three Government Servants have been deputed on Government expenditure as Khadim-Ul-Hujjaj. Haj pilgrims are also provided Haj guide in Odia and Haj kit (Trolley Bag, bag pack), etc free of cost.
Haj workshops are conducted in different zone of the State for imparting training and health check-up of the Haj pilgrims. This year the Haj pilgrims of Odisha will proceed to Saudi Arab from Kolkata Embarkation point within 25th July to 5th August, 2019. They will return after staying about 45 days in Saudi Arab within 1st September to 13th September, 2019, the press note added.