Ariful Islam/Guwahati

After paying tribute to Zubeen Garg during Rongali Bihu, Assam’s hajj pilgrims – whose first batch left for Jeddah on Sunday - will offer prayers for the legendary singer at the holy Kaaba (regarded as the abode of Allah). They will raise their hands in prayer in the holy precincts of Mecca, to seek peace for Zubeen’s soul and punishment for those behind his untimely death.

The Northeast Hajj Pilgrims Reception Committee organised a felicitation and farewell ceremony for the pilgrims at Haji Musafir Khana here on Friday. They all remembered Zubeen Garg. At the beginning of the event, tribute was paid to him, and in the concluding prayer, supplications were made for the peace of his soul.

“People across Assam and the entire country hold deep respect and love for Zubeen Garg, irrespective of caste, religion, community or language. On Friday, we paid tribute to him. His photographs have been put up around the Haji Musafir Khana. We also observed a one-minute silence in his memory. We prayed for the peace of his soul and appropriate punishment for the guilty. Additionally, our Hajj pilgrims will pray for him in Mecca and Medina,” Chairman of the Northeast Hajj Pilgrims Reception Committee, Nekibur Zaman, said.

Haj pilgrims at farewell and felicitation ceremony in Guwahati

“Zubeen Garg is the pride of Assam and a worthy son of the soil. We will remember him during our pilgrimage and pray for the peace of his soul. We will also speak to people from different countries there. He was a person of great heart, above divisions of caste, religion, community, and language,” one of the pilgrims said.

When asked whether the Middle East conflict would affect this year’s hajj pilgrimage, Zaman said: “Initially, we also had some doubts and concerns. However, we are assured that there will be no problems in the hajj pilgrimage due to the Middle East conflict. There is nothing to worry about in those regions. If there had been any issue, the Saudi Arabian government would have informed the Government of India, which would not have granted permission. As per the agreement between the two governments, the pilgrims will travel safely. Our pilgrims will go there under government responsibility.”

This year, around 3,500 pilgrims from Assam are participating in this year’s hajj pilgrimage. The number has slightly decreased this year due to an increase in embarkation points. Under the supervision of the Joint State Hajj Committee, many pilgrims will travel to Medina from different locations.

Zubeen Garg

Furthermore, the Joint State Hajj Committee has completed all necessary arrangements for the pilgrims as in the past. All processes, including visas, vaccinations, medical check-ups, currency exchange and accommodation and food arrangements, have been efficiently managed. Like in the past, each pilgrim has been given a traditional Assamese gamocha, which they would hang around their shoulders as an Assamese symbol of identification.

Meanwhile, the Saudi government has introduced a new system this year to make the pilgrimage easier. Each pilgrim has been provided with a wearable digital wristwatch. The device will be highly helpful, as it will monitor health conditions such as high blood pressure and provide updates. It is often seen that some pilgrims get lost during the pilgrimage; if a pilgrim goes missing, the watch will alert the authorities. In past pilgrimages, many deaths have occurred, and identifying deceased pilgrims has been challenging for Saudi authorities. The watch will store all necessary information about each pilgrim. Zaman hoped the device would significantly ease the pilgrimage experience.

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The farewell and felicitation event for the pilgrims on Friday was attended by the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, Dr Basanta Goswami, former Lieutenant General of the Indian Army, Rana Pratap Kalita, senior journalists Parag Mani Aditya and Dr Kumud Das. During the farewell event, the committee’s annual magazine ‘Labbayika’ was also officially released.

Saudi Arab launches first ever air taxi service for Haj pilgrims#hajj #saudiarabia #hajjpilgrims pic.twitter.com/zrXbRkXoBE

— Awaz The Voice Assam (@AssamAwaz) June 13, 2024