DUSHANBE, November 20, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s Committee for Religious Affairs is completing acceptance of Hajj (the holy journey made by Muslims to Mecca) applications today.

A source at the committee said that they have received some 1,500 applications, primarily from the districts subordinate to the center (RRP), by November 18.  The committee expects to receive other some 2,000 applications from its branches in Sughd and Khatlon provinces, according to the source.  The deadline for acceptance of the Hajj applications is November 20, according to the source.        

More than 3,500 Muslims from Tajikistan are expected to make Hajj this year.       

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.  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.    

 Idibek Ziyoyev, the head of the department for international ties of the Committee for Religious Affairs, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that on November 22, the committee officials will meet with representatives from the Saudi consulate services to discuss visa-processing procedures.     

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.