DUSHANBE, November 21, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s Committee for Religious Affairs has completed acceptance of Hajj (the holy journey made by Muslims to Mecca) applications today.

A source at the committee said that they have received 4,200 applications by today.  The totaled included 1,225 applications from Sughd, 950 applications from Khatlon and more than 2,000 applications fro Dushanbe and districts subordinate to the center (RRP). 

Idibek Ziyoyev, the head of the department for international ties of the Committee for Religious Affairs, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the deadline for acceptance of the Hajj applications was November 20.  “However, we expect some 300 other applications will come today,” Ziyoyev said.  

According to him, representatives from the Saudi consulate service are scheduled to arrive in Tajikistan within the next two-three days to discuss visa-processing procedures.    

 This year, Tajikistan’s pilgrims have to pay US$2,500 for the Hajj, US$200 more than last year.  According to the committee, the price increase is linked to a decline in the number of hotels willing to accept Tajik pilgrims; other hotels have raised their prices.  

Under a quota determined by Saudi Arabia, 3,600 people from Tajikistan made the Hajj to Mecca in early 2006.  This time, there are no restrictions on the number of pilgrims and anyone over the age of 18 who wishes may make the journey, according to the committee source. 

Tajik pilgrims will travel by planes.  They will fly to Saudi Arabia both from Dushanbe and Khujand.  The flights will be launched on December 10 and will be conducted ten days.  Tajik national air carrier will daily operate three flights to Saudi Arabia.  In 2004, Tajik authorities banned private firms and travel agencies from handling the Hajj process.  They transferred the right to deal with potential pilgrims to the Committee for Religious Affairs.  Bus tours to Saudi Arabia were also banned, leaving the state air company as the only carrier of pilgrims.    

 The Hajj, a journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, is one of the five pillars of Islam.  The pilgrimage is conducted during Zul-Hijjah, the last month of the lunar calendar used by Muslims.