Banjarmasin Embarkation Dispatches Final Hajj Group to the Holy City of Mecca

Banjarmasin (ANTARA) – The Banjarmasin Embarkation, in South Kalimantan, dispatched the final group, Group 19, of prospective hajj pilgrims (JCH) assembled from districts and cities to the Holy City of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the year 1447 H / 2026 AD.

‘The final group dispatched 353 pilgrims together with hajj officers,’ said H Eddy Khairani, Head of the Hajj Organising Officers (PPIH) at the Embarkation, in Banjarbaru on Wednesday.

He added that Group 19 comprises pilgrims from 12 regions, some from South Kalimantan, including Banjarmasin, Tapin, Tabalong and Balangan; there are also from Central Kalimantan Province, namely Murung Raya, Sukamara and Katingan.

He revealed that Group 19 was flown from Syamsuddin Noor International Airport in Banjarmasin to King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday at 00:15 WITA.

‘Preparations are in place for departure; we pray it will run smoothly and that they arrive safely in the Holy City of Mecca,’ he said.

With the departure of Group 19, Eddy said, the total number of pilgrims from the Banjarmasin Embarkation who departed for the 2026 Hajj season is 6,804.

He noted that the Hajj operations at the Banjarmasin Embarkation from 23 April to 21 May have run smoothly with few problems.

‘All pilgrims from the Banjarmasin Embarkation are already in Mecca to greet the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage,’ he said.

Indonesian pilgrims are currently almost all in the Holy City Mecca to prepare for the peak rites of Hajj at Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina (Armuzna) on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 H.

For the 2026 Hajj season, the Banjarmasin Embarkation dispatched 19 groups, i.e., 14 groups from South Kalimantan and five from Central Kalimantan, with 5,197 people from South Kalimantan and 1,561 from Central Kalimantan.