The union government has announced the introduction of a short Hajj package for Indian pilgrims, specifically targeting professionals and business people who struggle to take extended leave from work. The initiative, revealed on Saturday by the office of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, will allow pilgrims to complete the sacred pilgrimage in approximately 20 days instead of the usual 40 to 45 days. This marks the first time such an arrangement has been made available, with around 10,000 pilgrims expected to benefit from the special scheme during Hajj 2026.
The new package has been designed in response to feedback from working professionals and businesspersons who expressed difficulty in spending over a month away from their work commitments. Under the short Hajj arrangement, pilgrims will still be able to fulfill all essential religious rituals and obligations while significantly reducing their time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The reduced duration aims to make the pilgrimage more accessible and manageable for those with professional responsibilities, without compromising the spiritual significance of the journey.
The first flight under this special scheme is scheduled to depart from Kochi on May 17, with Union Minister George Kurian set to flag off the flight from Cochin International Airport at 12:30 pm. Following the inaugural departure, additional flights will operate from major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. The entire short Hajj package will run from May 17 to June 5, providing a compressed but complete pilgrimage experience for participants.
According to the official statement from the minister’s office, the initiative represents a significant step toward accommodating the diverse needs of Indian pilgrims. The 10,000 pilgrims traveling under this category will experience a streamlined schedule while maintaining the core requirements of the Hajj pilgrimage. The government has ensured that despite the shortened timeframe, all mandatory religious rituals will be properly observed, allowing participants to fulfill their spiritual obligations within the reduced stay period.
The minister’s office stated that the move is intended to make the pilgrimage more accessible and manageable for working professionals, while ensuring that all religious obligations are fulfilled. The introduction of the short Hajj package for Hajj 2026 marks a new approach to accommodating the practical constraints faced by modern pilgrims while preserving the sacred nature of the journey to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
