As many as 731 pilgrims, including 298 women, have been selected by the Haj committee in Odisha, official sources said.
After felicitating the Haj pilgrims here yesterday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters "this year 731 pilgrims have been selected for Haj in Meeca and Medina. The state government has made elaborate arrangement for their safe journey."
To look after the pilgrims, the state government will send four officials to Mecca in Saudi Arabia this year, the officials said.
The Haj pilgrims are slated to start their journey from today till July 24 and will spend 45 days in Saudi Arabia. They will return to the state in between September 2 and September 12.
As there is no direct flight from Bhubaneswar, all 731 will travel to Kolkata for visiting Mecca.
Patnaik said the state government has been building a Haj Bhavan in the state capital for Haj pilgrims.
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