Kottakkal: Shihab has started his journey to Mecca on foot to take part in the Haj pilgrimage. The 29-year-old hailing from Chottur near Valanchery started from his home after the morning prayer, offering 'duas' and bidding farewell to his kins.

A few locals and relatives followed Shihab for a short distance after which they parted and Shihab moved forward in his one-man journey. Shihab is only carrying basic necessities with him. Food and sleep will be at mosques along the way.

He concluded the first day’s journey at Parappanangadi. He will spend the night at Parappanangadi Juma Masjid and resume his journey on Friday. Shihab said that he has planned to walk at least 25 kilometres each day. The distance from his native place to Mecca is 8,640 kilometres. The journey will take 280 days. His goal is to get to Mecca in time for the next Haj pilgrimage.

He will cross the Wagah border to get to Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He has the visas to all five countries with him and will apply for the Haj in 2023 after getting to Saudi Arabia.

First flight to take off tomorrow

Marking the beginning of this year’s haj pilgrimage from India, the first flight carrying haj pilgrims under the Kerala State Haj Committee will take off from Nedumbassery on Saturday. Minister V Abdurahiman will flag off the first flight. It will have 377 passengers. Haj pilgrimage was conducted with restrictions in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. As foreigners were not allowed, there was no haj pilgrimage from India.

Along with the 5,758 pilgrims from Kerala, 1,989 persons from Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry will set off for the pilgrimage from the Cochin International Airport. A total of 7,747 pilgrims will take off from Nedumbassery this year.

20 flights of Saudi Airlines have been scheduled from June 4 to 16 for the haj pilgrimage. According to the current schedule, each flight has been reserved for the haj pilgrimage on June 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, and 15, while two flights on June 5, 8, 10 and 14 and three services on June 12 and 16.

The pilgrims, who arrive at Medina airport will head to Mecca after visiting the Prophet’s mosque. The accommodation will be arranged near Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina and near Aziziyah in Mecca. The pilgrims will return to Nedumbassery taking a flight from Jeddah airport.