“Around 2500 believers will go on pilgrimage to Hajj through the Caucasus Moslem Clerical Board (CMCB) in this season. The reception of the application was completed,” Haji Azad, the head of the International relations Division of the CMCB, told Trend.
A total of 1646 belong to the people chosen the trip by bus, while the rest preferred the trip by airplane. The buses will leave for Hajj on 25 December, the airplanes - 31 December. The pilgrims will repatriate in 23 and 17 days.
Azerbaijan received 2800-place quota with 2600 places for Azerbaijani citizens and 200 places for foreigners living in the country. The trip by bus will cost $ 1,320, by Boing 737 planes - $ 2,100. Mercedes buses will leave after 25 December through Iran-Turkey-Syria-Jordan to Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims will be able to visit holy places on the way. The faithful preferring planes will depart in late December.
The next pilgrimage of Moslems to holy cities Mecca and Madina will start in early January 2006.
Besides the CMB, 3 tourist companies �TUR’, �Karvan D’ and �President’ organize pilgrimage tour to Mecca in 2005. The CMB allocated 400-place quota to them. The companies continue reception of documents.