Nepal Hajj Committee Extends 2024 Pilgrimage Application Deadline

The Nepal Hajj Committee Secretariat has chosen to extend the application deadline for the 2024 Hajj, which is the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Secretariat has informed that Nepali Muslims who wish to partake in this spiritual journey in 2024 now have until November 26 to submit their applications. The initial deadline was set for November 8. Acting Committee Chairperson Makbul Miyan explained that this extension was given in response to popular demand.

In the context of Islam, the Hajj refers to a spiritual journey undertaken to visit the Kaaba, known as the "House of Allah," situated in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It represents one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which also include Shahadah (the proclamation of faith in Allah), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charitable giving), and Sawm (fasting during Ramadan). The Hajj is a compulsory religious obligation for all adult Muslims who possess the physical and financial means to make the journey, while also ensuring their family's well-being during their absence.

Interested individuals can access the application form on the Secretariat's official website, where further specifics about this revered expedition for the Muslim community will be made available by the Singha Durbar-based Secretariat. Additionally, the Saudi Arabian government has declared a 1,200-person quota specifically for Nepali Muslims who aspire to visit Mecca for the Hajj 1445 pilgrimage.