the goan I network
VASCO
Around 260 pilgrims who had undertaking their Haj pilgrimage to Mecca returned to the State on Thursday afternoon.
The pilgrims arriving from Saudi Arabia were given a warm welcome by members and volunteers of All Goa Haj Committee led by Chairman Jina Shaikh.
A welcome ceremony was also organised for pilgrims by the All Goa Jamat led by President Bashier Shaikh and Al Quadria United Front groups of Vasco led by its president Mohammed Yusuf Peerzade.
Adding a touch of interreligious harmony in Goa, a non-Muslim Group Anam Prem along with its volunteers was also present at Dabolim Airport to welcome the pilgrims
A large number of relatives had also gathered at the airport to receive their near and dear ones who had arrived after a month-long pilgrimage.
The first flight carrying around 260 pilgrims -- 172 from Goa and 88 from Karnataka -- to Saudi Arabia had left from Goa on July 13.
According to Ismail Shaikh, a member of the Haj committee, the pilgrims had no complain about any arrangements during the pilgrimage.
“The pilgrims were very happy upon their arrival. While volunteers of the Haj committee were assisting the pilgrims with their baggage, members of Anam Prem (a non-Muslim Group) received the pilgrims with flowers and distributed sweets, congratulating them on successfully completing the pilgrimage.”
“The pilgrims were received by the Haj Committee, All Goa Jamat and Al Quadria United Front. We had also arranged some refreshments for pilgrims. The pilgrims were extremely happy about the pilgrimage and had no complain of any sorts,” said Shaikh.
