KULOB, September 17, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- 584 Muslims from Khatlon’s Kulob region, which groups ten districts, are expected to make Hajj (holy journey to Mecca and Medina) this year, which if five times more than in 2007, Emomali Bulbulov, a chief specialist with the department for religious affairs and political parties within the Kulob mayor’s office said.

According to him, the city and the district of Kulob have given a quota of 107 pilgrims this year, Vose – 104, Farkhor – 80, Danghara – 69, Hamadoni – 75, Shuroobod – 29 and Baljuvon – 15.

The Hajj  is a pilgrimage to Mecca.  It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world.  It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.  It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah. 

The pilgrimage occurs from the 10th to the 15th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.  Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj is eleven days earlier from year to year. In 2007, the Hajj was from December 17 to December 21; in 2008 from the first week of December.