Editorial photo #13591073 Religion and Belief

First Hajj Pilgrims From Jammu And Kashmir Start Their Journey To Mecca And Madinah

A Kashmiri Hajj pilgrim arrives at the Hajj house before her departure to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 18, 2026. The first 145 Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims begin their annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest place for Muslims. Approximately 4,704 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are expected to participate in the Hajj in 2026. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)