Uzbek pilgrims head to Saudi Arabia

The committee said that about 255 pilgrims from Tashkent city flied to Medina in the morning of 27 September 2013. Later, same number of pilgrims flied to Medina with another flight.

As reported earlier, some 5,200 pilgrims from Uzbekistan will perform Hajj pilgrimage this year.

To create convenience for pilgrims, Uzbekistan Havo Yollari organized flights from Bukhara to Medina, from Namangan to Medina, from Samarkand to Medina, from Termez to Medina, from Urgench to Medina and from Karshi to Medina.

Before departure, pilgrims were vaccinated against neisseria meningitides and influenza. They also received print and video materials on pilgrimage rituals.

The committee said that hotels, near sacred places of Medina and Mecca, were rented for pilgrims from Uzbekistan. During pilgrimage, Uzbek citizens will stay three days and four days in Medina and visit Mecca to perform Hajj rituals.

Some 30 people from working group, 30 doctors and 10 cooks will render services to pilgrims from Uzbekistan during their stay in Mecca and Medina.

Pilgrims from Uzbekistan will return to Uzbekistan in November 2013 with flights of Uzbekistan Havo Yollari on Jeddah-Tashkent, Jeddah-Bukhara, Jeddah-Namangan, Jeddah-Samarkand, Jeddah-Termez, Jeddah-Urgench and Jeddah-Karshi.