Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in the Duaiya Majlis held at the Maulana Mazharul Haq Auditorium in Patna on Thursday, offering greetings and prayers to pilgrims from Bihar ahead of their departure for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
The event, organised by the Bihar State Haj Committee and the Minority Welfare Department, marked a ceremonial send-off for the 2,403 pilgrims embarking on the journey to Mecca. Kumar was honoured at the gathering by Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Jama Khan and Haj Committee Chairman Abdul Haq, who presented him with a bouquet, a cap, and a shawl.
Addressing the audience, Kumar said, “I extend my heartfelt greetings to all the pilgrims. I hope your journey is smooth, and your prayers are accepted.” Recalling his own visit to Mecca and Medina, where he was unable to enter the holy sites, he expressed joy in witnessing others take part in the sacred pilgrimage.
The Chief Minister emphasised the state government’s commitment to ensuring the comfort and safety of Haj pilgrims. “Officers from the Muslim community have once again been deputed to assist pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Our focus is on making sure you face no inconvenience,” he said.
This year’s contingent includes 1,391 male and 1,012 female pilgrims from Bihar. They will depart from ten different embarkation points across India, including Kolkata, Gaya, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Chennai, Nagpur, and Ahmedabad. Special facilities, including training and free vaccinations, have been arranged at Haj Bhawan in Patna and Waqf Bhawan in Kishanganj.
Sixteen state-appointed Haj Inspectors (Khadimul Hujjaj) will accompany the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, and teams led by senior officials have been stationed at each of the departure airports to assist travellers.
The Duaiya Majlis also featured collective prayers led by Hazrat Maulana Syed Shamim Munami of Khanqah Munimiya, who prayed for peace, harmony, and brotherhood in Bihar and across India.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Legislative Councillor Mohammad Khalid Anwar, and senior officials from the Haj Committee, Waqf Boards, and the Chief Minister’s Office.
