Muslim pilgrims from Tripura along with their near and dear ones gathered at the Agartala Airport before leaving for Hajjj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
Performing Hajjj has been a lifetime dream for all member of the team which includes 20 women.
A special prayer was conducted at the airport before the team left for Mumbai from where they are supposed to fly to Mecca on September 1 by a special flight of Air India, national carrier.
Tripura's Minority Welfare Minister Sahid Chowdhury and members of the State Hajjj Committee came to the airport to see off the pilgrims who will be returning to the state after 45 days.
"Allah is taking us for Hajjj and we are happy. We are dedicating everything in the hand of Allah who will keep us accordingly," said Praccha Bibi, one of the female members of this year's Hajjj team of Tripura that has around nine percent Muslim in its 3.7 million populations.
Meantime, 70 year old Farid Mia farmer from Bangladesh bordering Rahimpur village said: "We are leaving for Hajjj to visit Mecca so that we can dedicate our life to the Allah and it was my lifetime wish. We shall pray for world peace to the all mighty."
The gathered family member's of pilgrims expressed their satisfaction at the arrangement made for smooth journey and viewed that the message of Hajjj is peace, which is the fundamental preaching of Islam.
"Hajjj message is world peace and humanity. I think this year's Hajjj gathering considering the world scenario will pray effectively for world peace and what is going on around the world in the name of Jihaad will also be condemned by the Hajjj pilgrims there. So overall world peace, humanity and divinity towards Allah are the main objectives for going to Hajjj," said Baharul Islam Majumder, founder member of the Munsur Ali Foundation that works in the state for the development of the minority.
Hajjj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey. It is the fifth pillar of Islam and the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity.
This year some 1,36,000 Indians are likely to visit Mecca to perform Hajjj for which Air India, the national carrier of India will ply 230 special flights.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation provides subsidised air travel to pilgrims performing Hajjj through Hajjj Committee of India.
The Hajjj subsidy is a subsidy provided by Government of India to Indian Muslims to be able to perform Hajjj in Mecca. The subsidy includes domestic travel, meals, medical care, lodging assistance along with airfare subsidy.
Saudi Arabia is expecting around 1.33 million people from across the world for this year's Hajjj pilgrimage.