Shorter stay, but no major cost reduction in revised plan: Officials
Srinagar : The Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) has introduced a special 20-day Hajj package for the 2026 pilgrimage, catering to individuals with limited time due to work or personal commitments.
The package reduces the stay primarily in Madina but does not significantly decrease the overall cost of the pilgrimage, as airfare, transportation, and most service charges remain unchanged. The only cost adjustment pertains to accommodation. India has been allocated 10,000 seats under this new category, with approximately 490 slots reserved for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) across seven embarkation points, including Delhi. However, only 66 applications have been received from J&K for this package so far. The deadline for applications for Hajj 2026 is July 31, and officials anticipate that this new option may appeal to those with tight schedules. In terms of participation, J&K has seen a decline in Hajj pilgrims, with only 3,606 individuals performing Hajj last year. Current application numbers are at 28% of the expected quota, indicating a downward trend. Srinagar has received the highest number of applications, totaling 527 against an expected quota of 1,113, while Pulwama follows with 194 applications out of 408. Samba district leads in percentage terms with 87.61% of applications submitted. Overall, J&K is experiencing a significant decline in Hajj participation, as evidenced by comparative data from 2024 and 2025 across all districts.
