The first batch of Hajj pilgrims departed from Hajj house Srinagar on Sunday.

Emotional scenes were seen at the Hajj house, since Hajj commenced after two years of COVID-19 lockdown across the globe.

This year only 5,196 pilgrims from J&K will be performing Hajj, less then half the number of pilgrims that performed Hajj in 2019.

Following COVID-19 pandemic Saudi Government has restricted number of pilgrims to one million and set age limit for pilgrims at 65.

Hajj is one of the 5 basic pillars of Islam. Muslims desire Hajj pilgrimage once in a life time, how ever with the passage of time for many it seems like a distant dream.