Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sends off first group of prospective pilgrims from Cirebon City
Cirebon (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) in Cirebon City, West Java, saw off the departure of the first group of prospective Hajj pilgrims from the area, united in Flight Cluster 23, to be flown to the Holy Land via Kertajati Airport.
“This initial stage involves sending off the prospective Hajj pilgrims from Cirebon City to the Indramayu Hajj Dormitory,” said Acting Head of the Cirebon City Kemenhaj Office, Muhamad Ikbal Sugiana, in Cirebon on Friday.
He stated that the number of prospective Hajj pilgrims from Cirebon City in that cluster totals 278 people, all of whom have been declared ready to undertake the journey to the Holy Land.
He mentioned that, in addition to the pilgrims, there are also four Hajj officers who will accompany the journey and the performance of worship by the participants.
According to him, all prospective Hajj pilgrims in that cluster are in good health at the time of departure and have undergone various preparation stages.
Those stages, he said, range from health checks to the implementation of Hajj simulations before departing for Saudi Arabia.
Ikbal said the group of prospective Hajj pilgrims from Cirebon City is scheduled to arrive at the Indramayu Hajj Dormitory around 4:00 PM Western Indonesia Time for a transit period and final preparations.
“Prospective Hajj pilgrims from Cirebon City will be flown to Saudi Arabia on Saturday (9/5) at 5:20 PM Western Indonesia Time via Kertajati Airport,” he said.
According to him, the departure scheduling by waves is designed to align with the service system and placement of Indonesian prospective Hajj pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that the worship can proceed more orderly and smoothly.
He noted that among the total departing Hajj pilgrims, there are two youngest participants, each aged 20 years, while the oldest participant is recorded at 81 years old and still deemed fit to depart.
“In addition, there are 11 prospective Hajj pilgrims using wheelchairs who will receive special assistance during the journey as well as when performing worship in the Holy Land,” he added.