Application forms for Haj 2012 will be issued from March 1 to April 16. Pilgrims intending to go on Haj should pay Rs. 200 along with a self attested Photostat copy of the passport at the time of applying. Those selected through the ‘qurrah’ (draw of lots) will have to pay the first installment of Rs. 51,000 and submit their original passport which should be valid up to March 31, 2013.

The balance amount has to be paid before July 19. This time round, there will be only two categories of accommodation at Makkah Green and Azizia. The White’ category has been done away with since there is not much of a difference distance wise between these accommodations. These decisions were taken at the meeting of executive officers of State Haj Committee held at Mumbai the other day. Haj flights from India are expected to be operated from September 19 to October 20.

The standing at Arafa (Haj) will be on October 26 this year. According to S.A. Shukoor, Executive Officer, A.P. State Haj Committee, only those persons would be allowed to undertake the journey who are medically fit. Every pilgrim has to submit a fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Last year a number of persons who went on pilgrimage died in Saudi Arabia besides a number of women pilgrims who were in advance stage of pregnancy gave birth in the Kingdom resulting in lot of problems.

The Haj Committee of India has also fixed the cutoff date for pilgrims above 70 years for direct selection without ‘qurrah’. Such persons should be of 70 years by February 29, a day before the applications are issued. Similarly the cutoff date for two year infants accompanying parents has been fixed. Children should be two years old by November 30, 2012. This was done as earlier many infants accompanying parents turned three years in Saudi Arabia and there was a problem of ticket in the return journey. Infants are not charged anything, it is said.