Yesterday two Air Mauritius flights left for the annual Hadj pilgrimage. Indeed as every year, devout Muslims go to Mecca, the birthplace of Mohamed. The first flight left at one in the morning and the second in the afternoon. Seven other flights are scheduled over two weeks until the last one on the 31st of December.

The Islamic cultural centre has in recent years been the main organizer of the pilgrimages. It supervises the whole build-up to the event and gives appropriate support to the pilgrims. Several members of this cultural group see the pilgrims off at the airport to help them in several ways. They help to carry the luggage, to finalise the formalities and ensure the comfort of the pilgrims, taking into consideration that the latter wear the ?ehram», a white cloth worn by both men and women.

Besides, a team of volunteers from the State Bank led by personal banker Samah Ghoora has been helping for the past 15 years. This team offers a ?special exchange counter? to enable the pilgrims to purchase foreign currency, mainly Saudi Arabian riyals.

The pilgrims also receive a free medical check-up. So far, two medical check-ups offered by the Muslim Youth federation have taken place, the first at Aleemeeah College on 27th November and the second at Islamic College in Port-Louis on 4th December. Elsewhere, a training session is being offered to those who will be going on pilgrimage for the first time. It is an interaction between experienced pilgrims and new ones.

The hadj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy place for Muslims. It is a spiritual goal in the life of a Muslim to go there and perform the rituals. This preparation and support are important, for each year more than four million Muslims across the world go to Saudi Arabia for this pilgrimage.