Over 350 pilgrims will travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform the Umrah pilgrimage during the final 15 days of Ramadan, under the care of the Maldives Hajj Corporation, according to the agency.
On Thursday evening, the Hajj Corporation convened an information session in Malé for the 350 prospective Umrah pilgrims. Prior to this, the agency had organised training programmes to prepare the pilgrims for their journey. A total of 557 individuals are undertaking the Umrah pilgrimage under the agency's auspices this Ramadan, with over 350 scheduled to travel to Makkah for the final fortnight of the holy month, it said.
Hassan Sinaan, head of sales and marketing at the agency, stated that extensive guidance was provided to the pilgrims during the information session. According to him, this included details from the departure point in Malé to Makkah and the entire procedural aspects of the pilgrimage until their return. The information provided included the procedures for performing the Umrah pilgrimage, religious guidelines, administrative considerations, and the prohibitions applicable to pilgrims, he added.
Three online information sessions had also been held earlier to offer the intended Umrah pilgrims opportunities to clear any doubts and pose queries. The pilgrims are scheduled to depart for Makkah at approximately 4:50 a.m. on 15 March aboard a Saudia flight, according to the agency.