Mangaluru: The last minute preparations are on for the Hajj pilgrims who are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia from this coastal city in a couple of days.
All the registration procedures begun on Saturday morning at the old terminal building of MIA (Mangaluru International Airport) where the pilgrims are camping.
According to the sources, the pilgrims need to register at the old terminal of the airport two days before departure along with their luggage, confirmation card and Hajj Committee receipt.
The flights are scheduled to depart for the Hajj operation from 24th August. The first flight is scheduled to leave at 4:15 pm from the old terminal. A farewell programme will be held for the pilgrims at 11:00 am on same day.
Around 6,000 pilgrims will be participating from Karnataka. These were selected from a raffle draw of 23,514 applications excluding the ones aged above 70.
Pilgrims from the State would leave from Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Goa and Hyderabad. As many as 780 pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts would leave from Mangaluru.
Mangaluru Hajj Management Committee President Yenepoya Muhammad Kunhi, vice president Mahmoud Haji, secretary Haneef Haji, member K M Aboobakar Siddeeq were present among others when the procedures commenced.