First women-only Haj flight takes off from Karipur in Kerala

Malappuram: Kerala’s first women-only Haj flight took off from the Calicut International Airport in Karipur on Thursday after it was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla. Barla performed the symbolic flag-off ceremony and distribution of boarding passes for the maiden flight. This is the first time that only women flights have been organized for Haj in Kerala. The pilot and crew of the aircraft are all women.

The Air India Express flight left Karipur at 6.45 pm carrying 145 women pilgrims and six women crew, the first such flight from Kerala for women pilgrims without a mahram or male companion. Barla said that the women-only flight is a great step towards women empowerment in the country and requested the pilgrims to pray for the safety and progress of the country.

Apart from the 145 women pilgrims traveling in the aircraft, all levels of dispatching, flight operations, loading, cleaning, engineering, ground handling and other related activities along with the pilot and other crew members of the aircraft are to be flown by women. Done by, makes this trip different.
The minister inaugurated the distribution by handing over boarding passes to 76-year-old Sulekha, the senior most member of the team.

The minister expressed happiness over the arrangements being made by the State Haj Committee for the pilgrims. Eleven flights have been scheduled till Monday for women pilgrims leaving from Karipur airport. 1,595 women pilgrims will depart in eleven flights of ‘Bina Mahram’ category over several days. The rest will travel by other flights.

This year 2,733 people from the state are going through the ‘Bina Mehram’ category. Out of this, 1718 people will leave through Karipur, 563 through Kochi and 452 through Kannur embarkation point.

This year’s oldest woman pilgrim Khadiyamma (87), a native of Nediyarup in Malappuram district, will leave on June 10 at 4.20 am. 69 men and 76 women took off from Karipur at 9 am on flight IX. 3021 on Thursday. 71 men and 74 women traveled from Kannur airport this afternoon. Another flight from Kochi will leave tomorrow at 11.30 am.

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy met the batch of Muslims leaving for Mecca at the Haj House here on Thursday and said the government has appointed a Haj committee to ensure a hassle-free journey with the pilgrims. . This is the first time that pilgrims are leaving for Haj from Vijayawada embarkation point. Greeting the pilgrims, the Chief Minister said, “Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha, who is with you, will take care of you and inform me in case of any need.”

Every year, millions of Muslims around the world go on the holy pilgrimage known as Hajj. This spiritual journey is of utmost importance in the lives of believers, providing an opportunity to connect with Allah, seek forgiveness and strengthen their faith. The heartfelt desire to join those marching to Mina, to hum along with the crowd, and to perform the rituals of the Hajj is a sentiment shared by countless individuals.

Hajj is a unique expression of unity, as Muslims from diverse backgrounds, cultures and nations gather in the holy land of Mecca to perform rituals together. It is a remarkable sight to see people from different walks of life moving towards a common objective, setting aside their differences and embracing each other as equals before Allah.