New Delhi, April 20 -- The annual pilgrimage to Mecca and other holy sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hajj 2026 (1447 AH), commenced on 18 April 2026 for international arrivals. A total of 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims are expected to undertake this pilgrimage this year, said Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. According to official timelines, Hajj 2026 is expected to take place between May 24 and May 29, with international arrivals scheduled from April 18 to May 21.

The Minority Ministry said Hajj operations will be conducted through 17 embarkation points across the country, including major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Srinagar.

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