DUSHANBE, June 5, 2014, Asia-Plus -- This year, Tajik pilgrims will have to pay 540 somoni (some 106 U.S. dollars) more than last year.

This year, the Hajj will cost for Tajik pilgrims 18,165 somoni.

Afshin Muqim, a spokesman for the Committee on Religious Affairs and Regulation of National Traditions and Rituals under the Government of Tajikistan (Committee), says this amount includes travel expenses, board and lodging, special clothing with the national flag, purchase of animal for sacrificing, guide services, medical insurance, vaccinations, etc.

The Committee specialists attribute rise in the Hajj cost to devaluation of the national currency, the somoni, against the dollar.  Besides, medical insurance has been included to the Hajj cost this year.

Last year, the Hajj cost was 17,625 somoni (TJS) and in 2012, the Hajj cost was 17,127 somoni.  

This year, the Committee and the National bank of Tajikistan (NBT) have reportedly set the currency exchange rate for Hajj pilgrims at US$1.00:TJS4.97 while last the exchange rate of USD against TJS was 1:4.83.

6,200 Tajik Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj this year.

In 2010, the Committee on Religious Affairs introduced age restrictions on those who want to perform the Hajj.  Only citizens aged 18 to 80 are able to perform the Hajj.

The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is currently the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.  The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God.  The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar.  Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year.