Haj: First direct flight from Guwahati

          Guwahati: Haj pilgrimage has become easier for the people of the North-east, particularly Assam, with the launch of a direct flight from Assam to Jeddah. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently flagged off the inaugural Air India flight. This is the first international flight from Assam to West Asia and has fulfilled the long pending demand of the Haj Pilgrims from Assam, who will not have to head for Kolkata or Delhi to take a flight for Jeddah.
- Jan 21, 2005

Haj: Ghulam Nabi Azad leads official delegation

          New Delhi: Leading an official Haj delegation, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today left for Haj pilgrimage. Before taking the flight from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Azad told reporters: "The Prime Minister have sent lots of wishes for the Haj Pilgrims and wished that all the pilgrims return safe. He has also given the responsibility of inviting the King of UAE to India, conveying him the message of friendship. That the relationship that was built by Nehru and his predecessors can be taken further." There were enthusiasm and excitement in the air both among the Haj goers as well as the friends and relatives in the airport to see them off. "I am accepting the call for Haj and I am very happy. I will pray for the well-being and prosperity of the country," said Rasula Bibi, one of the Haj pilgrims. The flight marked the completion of the massive task of transporting 127,000 pilgrims to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
- Jan 16, 2005

Haj: Doctors warn about health hazards

         London: Muslims all over the world will make the holy pilgrimage to Mecca later this month. And as they prepare themselves for the Haj pilgrimage, doctors caution that the pilgrimage carries considerable health risks if the pilgrim is unprepared. Hajj, the journey to the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, is a once in a lifetime obligation for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are important hazards as even though Hajj occurs during winter, the average temperature is over 30C during the day and 20C at night write Abdul Rashid Gatrad and Aziz Sheikh in the British Medical Journal. "Men are particularly at risk, as they are prohibited from directly covering their heads during Hajj," Professor Gatrad of Manor Hospital, Walsall, said. He recommends simple measures, such as use of an umbrella, preferably white in colour, to deflect the sun away. "The risk of infectious diseases is also important. Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occurred among British pilgrims in 1987, 2000, and 2001, and the Saudi authorities now insist that all pilgrims must be vaccinated," Professor Sheikh of the University of Edinburgh, added. Pilgrims also need to be aware of the risks of important bloodborne infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, especially as one of the rites of Hajj is for men to have their head shaved. "With sensible precautions, most of these problems should be preventable," the authors write. They advice that in patients who have returned from Hajj, the doctors should be vigilant for signs of diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis, malaria, and hepatitis.
- Jan 15, 2005

Mata Sahibi Kaur Gurudwara opens for pilgrims
by Ravinder Singh Robin

          Jhelum: Continuous efforts by the Indian Sikh bodies to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit their religious places in Pakistan have paid off with the Govt throwing open the gurudwara Janamasthan Mata Sahibi Kaur for the pilgrims. The Rohtas village, within the fort is the birthplace of Mata Sahib Kaur, born in the family of Bhai Ramu Bassi. Said to be an archaelogocial site, the fort was closed to the public for more than 150 years. The Sikhs, holding great faith in their Gurus and their family members have been agitating for its re-opening for the pilgrims to pay obeisance. Paramjeet Singh Sarna, Presedent of the Delhi Gurudwara Management Committe and the member of the Jatha visited Pakistan said, "Relations between the two nations are improving. This is just a part of that relationship, but for a long time we have been telling the Pakistan government, through the media, to preserve the historical religious places of the Sikhs. Whenever we came here alongwith jathas, we have been making constant demands for the preservation of the gurudwaras. And this is the result of that, that they fulfilled this demand". Once repaired during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the old building was demolished and a new structure was built, but that too is now crumbling. However, it was an emotional moment for the devotees who have great faith in their religion and for the places related to the gurus. Pritpal Singh, head of America Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee said, "I cannot express, its worldless. Its a rememberable visit to this place. I never imagined that one day I will be visiting this place". Hajara Singh, a visitor from Pakistan said, "I am very happy that I could offer prayers at the Mata Sahib shrine. Many vouched for opening of every gurudwara the public and visas be given easily so that people from both the sides can offer prayers without any hassels. There are total of 172 Sikh shrines located in Pakistan and very few of them are open for the devotees from India and other parts of the world.
- Jan 11, 2005

Haj: First direct flight from N-E takes off

          Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today flagged off the first direct flight from north-east India for Mecca carrying Haj pilgrims from Guwahati. National carrier Indian Airlines (I-A) would operate 12 flights each way to transport nearly 500 Haj pilgrims to Mecca between January 15 and March 29. The Civil Aviation ministry is also planning to expand the service to 12 more cities. The pilgrims boarding the first flight expressed happiness at the new facility. "The plane is flying from here for the first time. We are grateful for that and we pray that it continues," said Mohammad Rakikul Ahmed, a Haj pilgrim. "All of us prayed for this day. Our wish has been fulfilled. We won't have to face problems as we would directly land in Jeddah. Earlier, we had to face too many difficulties. Many of us had to return back from Calcutta without taking the trip," said Rekkibuddin Ahmed, Vice-Chairman of Northeast Haj Reception Committee. I-A has liased with all concerned agencies to ensure that adequate infrastructure facilities are provided at all embarkation points both in India and Saudi Arabia. The Centre gives a travel subsidy of around Rs 20,000 rupees to every pilgrim.
-Jan 5, 2005

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