On Sunday morning, August 21, the first group of 185 Tajik pilgrims flew from Dushanbe to the Holy city of Saudi Arabia – Medina.

Afshin Mukim, a press Secretary of the Committee for religious Affairs, regulation of traditions and rituals under the government of Tajikistan, said that this year a half of the pilgrims will be brought to the Holy sites of Islam and back with the help of the national airline "Somon air", and the other with the airline of Saudi Arabia – "Flynas".

According to the plan, sending Tajik pilgrims will continue until September the 5 ^th , and theirs return journey is on September the 17 ^th . The cost of the Hajj in 2016 in Tajikistan is estimated at 28 thousand 649 somoni 10 dirams.

The Committee on religious Affairs, regulation of traditions and rituals under the government of Tajikistan explained the reasons for the sharp increase in the cost of Hajj (on 5 thousand somoni) for Tajik pilgrims this year by the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, as well as providing the best, in comparison with previous years, conditions in Mecca and Medina.

This year to the Holy sites of Islam will go more than 6 thousand Tajik pilgrims.