Over one lakh Indian Haj pilgrims will be provided with 5-litre cans of sacred Zamzam water on their return to India under a new agreement between Haj Committee of India and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
As part of the arrangement with the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry these cans on their return flights after disembarking pilgrims at Jeddah airport's Haj Terminal, Arab News reported today.
The specially packaged Zamzam water cans, provided by the government-run Zamzam Packaging Factory in Kudai, Mecca, will be stored at various points in India to be delivered to the pilgrims once they return from Saudi Arabia after the pilgrimage, the daily reported.
Each pilgrim will get one 5-litre container. The arrangement was made to ease the difficulties of returning pilgrims who already have a great deal of luggage. Also, this method will be easier for airlines to manage the load on the return journey, the report said.
The arrangement was put into place last year. However, at that time, only Saudi Arabian Airlines was able to implement it. This year, Air India too is expected to follow the same procedure, the report said.
Of the 136,020 Indian pilgrims arriving this year, 100,020 would be coming through the Haj Committee of India. Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry 49,230 while Air India will transport 50,790 from 21 embarkation points. The remaining 36,000 pilgrims will come through private tour operators.
"Negotiations were in progress with Air India about transporting Zamzam containers on return flights, following the Saudia model, Indian Consul General BS Mubarak was quoted as saying by Arab News.
"There are certain issues back home in India, but we are very optimistic that this will be sorted out, and Air India too will follow the Saudia pattern," he said.
Zamzam water is among the most prized items taken home by all returning pilgrims. It is a sign of God's miraculous powers and as such, it is valued and revered by Muslims worldwide.
Another service that Indian pilgrims enjoy is known as "City Check-In" or "Remote Check-In."
"Pilgrims leaving from Makkah or Madinah will not need to carry their luggage to Jeddah or Madinah airports. It will be collected by the airlines from the pilgrims' accommodation in the two holy cities 24 hours in advance," said Mubarak. "This makes it easier for the pilgrims because they are free to travel with only their hand luggage."
In the past, carrying luggage created a number of problems and caused much inconvenience and delay.
