The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Karnataka left for Saudi Arabia from the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) here today.
Earlier, a farewell programme for Haj pilgrims was organisedat Ansar school in Bajpe.
Khazi Twakha Ahmed Musliar presented the invocation and Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan Samyukta Khazi P M Ibrahim Musliar Bekal delivered a spiritual discourse.
A total of 4.48 lakh people had applied through Indian Haj Committee for the pilgrimage.
The quota provided to India by Saudi Arabia is 1.70 lakh.
Of this, 1.25 lakh pilgrims would travel through Haj Committee and others through private agencies, Haj committee sources said.
As many as 23,514 aspirants had applied for the pilgrimage from Karnataka and 6,000 of them would make it to the holy pilgrimage this year.
Except those who have been applying for the last three years and the aged persons, the remaining members were selected through lucky draw system.
All processes related to the pilgrimage were done online.
A total of 780 people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts would travel from the MIA.
DK district in-charge Minister Ramanath Rai, Food and Civil supplies Minister U T Khader, MLAs J R Lobo, Moideen Bava, Abhayachandra Jain, Ivan Dsouza, MLC, and state Haj Committee member K M Aboobakar Siddik Montugoli were among those present to bid farewell to the pilgrims.
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