J&K struggles to fill pilgrimage quota

Srinagar, Sep 27: Jammu and Kashmir is facing an unusual challenge in filling its Hajj pilgrimage quota for the second consecutive year.

For Hajj 2025, of the allocated 8200 slots granted by the Hajj Committee of India to J&K, less than half the applications have been submitted so far, raising concerns over whether financial pressures or the steep costs of the pilgrimage are deterring prospective pilgrims.

In 2024, for the first time in J&K, there was no draw of lots for Hajj pilgrims as the number of applications fell far below the allocated quota.

With fewer applicants than the 8200 slots available, all those who applied were selected for the 2024 pilgrimage.

This marked a significant shift from previous years, when the number of hopeful applicants typically exceeded the quota by at least threefold, necessitating a draw of lots to determine who would be able to go.

Executive Officer, Jammu and Kashmir State Hajj Committee, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi said: “This year, of the initial quota of 8200, we have only received 4000 applications so far, which is less than 50 percent. We have extended the deadline for submission of forms to September 30.”

The application gap has prompted the committee to extend the deadline twice - from September 9 to September 30 - in hopes of filling the remaining slots.

According to Hajj Committee officials, the rising costs associated with the pilgrimage are playing a significant role in the decline of applications.

In 2023, pilgrims from J&K had to deposit Rs 4,16,000, which increased to Rs 4,24,000 in 2024.

For the 2025 Hajj, costs are expected to climb even higher, reflecting inflation and broader economic concerns.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage from the Srinagar embarkation point ranged between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 2.8 lakh. This made the pilgrimage relatively more affordable for many in J&K compared to the steep costs seen in recent years.

The expenses covered travel, accommodation, and other logistical arrangements, and while not inexpensive, it was within reach for many aspiring pilgrims.

However, post-pandemic inflation and rising costs have significantly increased the financial burden, making it much harder for people to afford the journey.

For many aspiring pilgrims, the financial burden has become a significant deterrent.

Bashir Ahmad, a hopeful applicant, expressed his concerns saying: “I have been planning for Hajj for years, but every year, the costs keep rising. It’s becoming difficult for families like mine to afford this once-in-a-lifetime journey.”

Mushtaq Ahmad, another prospective pilgrim, shared a similar sentiment saying: “I submitted my application, but I am still unsure how I will manage the costs. We are seeing the cost of everything going up, and for Hajj, it’s no different. I have been saving for years, but now it seems like it may not be enough.”

The combination of rising costs and economic challenges in J&K is making the pilgrimage an increasingly difficult aspiration for many.

“The combination of a bulging Hajj cost and a general economic crunch is making it difficult for people to plan the pilgrimage,” said a Hajj Committee official, who chose to remain anonymous.

With the September 30 deadline approaching, the committee is hoping that the extended window will help more people come forward to fulfil their spiritual aspirations, despite the financial hurdles. Whether the additional time will bring enough applicants remains to be seen.