2016 Haj pilgrimage schedule released in UP

The Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee has released the schedule for annual Haj pilgrimage for 2016, an official said on Wednesday.

According to the schedule, the holy pilgrimage of Muslims will begin from September 9 for residents of Uttar Pradesh and the forms for the same would be available from January 14 in every district.

The first flight from India, however, would take off on August 4, the official added.

Haj Committee's Chief Executive Officer Tanveer Ahmad said some new value additions would be made from next year for the Haj pilgirms. It includes a personal Haj guide for every pilgrim. This was restricted to one for each four pilgrims till now.

A lottery would be taken out from the applicant forms on March 23 and the Hajis will have to deposit the first installment of their fees by April 8.

The Haj Committee will put up all relevant data by April 29 and the waiting list will come out on May 6. The last date of the government quota for Haj will be released between June 15 and July 9.