Srinagar, July 29 -- Hajj is one of the five essential tenets of Islam, and every practicing Muslim hopes to undertake this spiritual journey at least once in a lifetime. In fact, Hajj is a deeply held dream that holds profound religious and emotional meaning. The journey to Mecca links the pilgrim to an ancient tradition tracing back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Despite its deep religious significance, the number of applications from Jammu and Kashmir for Hajj continues to decline. As the July 31 deadline for Hajj 2026 applications approaches, only 2,244 applications have been received out of an expected 7,896, which stands at a mere 28.42%. Last year, only 3,606 pilgrims embarked on the journey, and current figures suggest a sha...