335 Hajj pilgrims from Agam to depart in late April

Lubuk Basung (ANTARA) - The Hajj and Umrah Office of Agam Regency, West Sumatra, states that 335 prospective hajj pilgrims from the area, grouped into two flight contingents (kloter), will depart for the Holy Land at the end of April and beginning of May 2026.

“This year, Agam Regency is sending off 335 hajj pilgrims,” said the Head of the Hajj and Umrah Office of Agam Regency, Zulkarnain Batubara, in Lubuk Basung on Friday.

He explained that the 335 hajj pilgrims are divided into two kloters: Kloter 6 with 308 pilgrims and Kloter 14 with 27 pilgrims.

Kloter 6 is scheduled to depart for the Holy Land on 29 April 2026, while Kloter 14 will depart on 8 May 2026.

He added that the pilgrims departing this year registered 12 to 13 years ago.

In fact, the current waiting period for hajj departure in Agam has reached 26 years.

“This is also the first year that the organisation of hajj and umrah is handled by a dedicated ministry, no longer under the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agam Regent Benni Warlis reminded the prospective hajj pilgrims to maintain their physical condition while performing the series of hajj rituals.

He hopes that the hajj pilgrims can pray for Agam Regency to always be kept away from disasters and for its people to live better lives again.

“Pray for us to also be given the opportunity to perform the hajj pilgrimage, and pray for Agam Regency to be free from all disasters,” he said.

He acknowledged the central government’s efforts to improve hajj services. One of them is through the policy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia by establishing a dedicated ministry to handle the organisation of hajj and umrah, which was previously under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“This is a strategic step so that hajj services in the future will be increasingly optimal,” he said.