5,446 women to go for Haj without mehram, most since policy change | India News

NEW DELHI: As the first batch of pilgrims to embark on Haj in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, overall data showed that 5,446 Muslim women will travel as “ladies without mehram” (male companions) for the pilgrimage, with Kerala again leading the way by accounting for 4,477 women in this category.This is the largest group of women in the LWM category since 2018 when a policy change enabled for the first time Muslim women aged 45 and over, who wish to perform Hajj but do not have a male mehram and have a ‘school of thought’ (maslak) permit, to travel in groups of four or more. Unmarried women of same age can also apply.A total of 1,75,025 pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year. Of the total quota for the Government of India (GoI), 70% is allocated to Hajj Committees of India and 30% to Hajj Group Organisers.