The visas for Indonesias 102,663 would be hajj pilgrims or first batch of trip this year have been made available, an official of the Religious Affairs Ministry has said.

"Visas for the Indonesias first batch of 102,663 would be hajj pilgrims have been issued by the Saudi Arabian Embassy," according to M Sofwan, the division chief of the Hajj documents and equipment affairs of the Religious Affairs Ministry in his written statement received here on Sunday.

Total of the Indonesian hajj pilgrims quota this year reaches 221,000 people, comprising 204,000 of regular hajj trip and 17,000 of the special trip. 

The first batch of the hajj departure is from July 28 to August 11, 2017, and the second batch is from August 12 to 26. 

Sofwan further said the would be hajj pilgrims in the first batch will leave for Medina, Saudi Arabia for performing the Arbain worship (40 times of praying or nine days of staying) in Medina. 

After completing the Arbain, the hajj pilgrims with then proceed to Mecca for the pilgrimage worship procession. 

Meanwhile, the second batch of trip will leave Indonesia to Jidda before proceeding to Mecca. Those in the second batch of trip will move to Medina after completing their pilgrimage worship procession.(*)

Source: ANTARA