First batch of haj pilgrims to return home on Wednesday

JAKARTA (JP): The first six groups of the Indonesian haj pilgrims will leave Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and are expected to arrive home on the following day.

The pilgrims will land in airports in Jakarta, Surakarta and Balikpapan, with each airport welcoming two groups, the spokesman for national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Pujobroto, said in a news statement on Saturday.

Pujobroto said Garuda planned to fly home a total of 111,060 pilgrims in 26 days. Pilgrims will be divided into 293 groups, which will equal the number of departure groups.

The last group of pilgrims is scheduled to leave Jeddah on April 16.

A total of 182,000 Indonesians joined the haj pilgrimage this year. Among them were several ministers, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Indonesian Military Chief Adm. Widodo A.S. Some 200 ulemas were also invited by the Saudi Arabian government this season.

The ministers included Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab, Minister of Education Yahya Muhaimin, State Minister of the Empowerment of Women Khofifah Indar Parawansa, State Minister of Research and Technology A.S. Hikam and the Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan, who is the Amirul Haj (head of pilgrims).

Most VIPs will fly home on March 20.

The haj pilgrims left the country from Feb. 14 to March 10 from six embarkation points.

The annual pilgrimage peaked on March 16, which coincided with the holy Day of Sacrifice.

Garuda recorded 686 vacant seats from all six embarkations due to health reasons or cancellations. The airliner also reported only 12 delays in the 293 flights of haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The haj pilgrims brought with them a total of 2.2 million kilograms of baggage.(dja)