Mangalore, September 8: Around one hundred pilgrims, who will be undertaking Hajj this year, participated in a Hajj training camp organised by the local unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in the city on Saturday.

Dozens of women also took benefit of the event organized at Hidayat Centre on Bibi Alabi Road.  The day long programme was inaugurated by Abdussalam Uppinagady, who explained the significance of Hajj.

Moulana Yahya Thangal, Khatheeb of Havva Masjid, Bolangady and Mufthi Abdul Mannan, Khatheeb of Jamiah Masjid, Kudroli explained the participants how to perform Hajj in Beary and Urdu languages respectively.

The experts detailed the various facets associated with the sacred pilgrimage, including wearing the special cloth 'ihram' before entering the city of Makkah, circumambulation of Ka’aba, standing on the ground of Mina, stay at Muzdilfah, and Saee (running or walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah).

There was considerable enthusiasm among the pilgrims who were eager to know about the various facets of Hajj. One of the participant said: "I had been applying for Haj for the last three years, and finally this year, Allah accepted my prayers and my name was selected in the list of the persons who would be going to perform the Hajj. I was informed about the various customs during the training programme.''

Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is mandatory for those Muslims, who could afford the expenses, to perform it once in his life.

Local unit present of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Saeed Ismaeel was present.  Yusuf Pakkaladka compered the programme.