COMPUTERISED DRAW OF LOTS FOR HAJ PILGRIMS

The Qurrah Andazi (Draw of Lots) for the annual Haj pilgrimage was conducted at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on May 25 in the presence of a large number of applicants. At the end of exercise, 1,446 successful candidates were selected for the Haj pilgrimage. The draw of lots was conducted by the Delhi Haj Committee, and among those present were Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and Delhi State Haj Committee member Shakeel Saifi. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chauhan said the Delhi Government was trying to get the quota of Haj pilgrims increased.  The computerised draw of identifying the Haj pilgrims was conducted because all the applicants cannot be sent for pilgrimage. For the year 2009 a total of 8,661 applications had been received, out of which 1,446 successful applicants were selected through random draw by computer. Apart from this 29 applicants have been kept on the waiting list. If for some reasons a selected pilgrim drops out these waitlisted applicants would fill the slot. The successful applicants would be issued application forms by DSHC and then they have to deposit a Rs. 30,700 each before May 31 in any of the branches of State Bank of India. Along with the application forms, the successful applicants would have to deposit their passports as well. For this year’s pilgrimage, flights would start from October 20. Prior to that, an immunisation and training programme will be organised for the Haj pilgrims at the Haj Manzil on Asaf Ali Road.