Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Jul 24: With just a week left before the July 31 deadline for Hajj 2026 applications, Jammu and Kashmir has so far received only 28.42% of its expected applications, an official said on Thursday.
Officials at the J&K Hajj Committee privy to the information said that Jammu and Kashmir has an expected quota of 7,896 pilgrims, but as of July 24, only 2,244 applications have been filed.
As per the officials, the low response has raised concerns as the final quota allocation from the Saudi government is yet to be confirmed.
As per the officials, the highest number of applications has come from Srinagar, where 527 applications have been received against an expected quota of 1,113 (47.34%). Pulwama follows with 194 applications out of 408 (47.60%). Samba district, however, tops the chart in percentage terms with 87.61% applications (19 out of 22).
On the other hand, Poonch (10.08%), Doda (12.26%), and Kishtwar (17.46%) remain the lowest-performing districts.
“So far, only 28% of applications have come in. We expect more in the last few days, but the final quota is still awaited from Saudi Arabia,” the official said.
It is pertinent to mention that last year, J&K sent 3,606 pilgrims to Hajj, with officials noting that around 10% of applicants usually withdraw before departure.
J&K is witnessing a rapid decline in Hajj pilgrimage. The comparative data for 2024 and 2025 reveals a sharp decline in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the number of pilgrims applying to take up the Hajj 2025 journey.
Trade leaders and businessmen attribute the decline in the Hajj applications to rising prices and economic strain in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the people in the region were struggling to make ends meet.
