Divided Into 7 Groups, 2,840 West Sumatran Hajj Pilgrims Depart From June 4

Illustration of the Hajj in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Between)

WEST SUMATRA - The Ministry of Religion recorded as many as 2,840 prospective pilgrims will depart from the West Sumatra Hajj Embarkation. Departures are divided into seven flight groups starting June 4, 2022.

"Of the 2890 hajj candidates, five groups of 2093 people are from West Sumatra, and two groups (747 people) are pilgrims from Bengkulu", said Head of the West Sumatra Regional Ministry of Religion, Helmi in Padang, Thursday.

He said this at the inauguration of the West Sumatra Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) in 2022, at the Padang Hajj Embarkation Dormitory.

He said this year's departure was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world. It is hoped that the Padang Hajj Embarkation can provide the best service to prospective Hajj pilgrims.

The Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi, who was also appointed as the director of PPIH West Sumatra, said his party was determined to provide the best service for Hajj pilgrims in 2022 AD/1443 H.

"With the inauguration of the PPIH, it is hoped that this service can be maximized", he said.

Director of Hajj Fund Management and Integrated Hajj Information Systems, Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Ministry of Religion, Jaja Jailani MM explained that the operational period of the 2022 M/1443 H Hajj pilgrimage will take place from June 4 to 18, 2022, then the second batch will be held on June 19 to July 3, 2022.

After Wukuf in Padang Arafah on July 8, 2022, the first batch of repatriation from Jeddah will take place from July 15 to 29, 2022. While the second batch of repatriation from the City of Medina will start from July 30 to August 13, 2022.

"Overall, 92,825 hajj pilgrims from Indonesia will depart in 2022, divided into 241 groups of 13 embarkations", he said.

Jaja further explained that this year zoning will be applied based on the origin of the embarkation to make it easier to direct the congregation.

Especially for the DKI Jakarta embarkation, his party has also implemented fast-track immigration for prospective hajj pilgrims.

"Hopefully to provide the best service for the congregation, next year we can apply the immigration fast track in Padang", he concluded.