Lolab youth embarks on 9-month bicycle journey to Saudi Arabia for Umrah

Srinagar, Aug 10: A 29-year-old youth from Diver Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has embarked on an ambitious bicycle journey to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, with the strenuous expedition expected to take around nine months.
Parvaiz Ahmed Lachi, an avid cyclist associated with the hotel industry said that he had been planning to undertake the Umrah journey by bicycle for more than two years. However, his plans were delayed after he suffered a leg fracture while playing football.
Parvaiz said he resumed cycling after recovering from the injury and gradually increased his pace before finally deciding to begin the sojourn.
“My parents resisted the idea for over a year. I kept trying to convince them. During Ramadan, I prayed for the Umrah journey and eventually my family got convinced,” he said.
Parvaiz said he was inspired by Shihab Chottur, a native of Valancherry in Kerala’s Malappuram district, who travelled thousands of kilometres on foot from India to Makkah to perform Haj.
“Since Shihab Chottur walked such a long distance to Makkah, I thought, why couldn’t I do it on my cycle?” he said.
The Lolab cyclist said he currently has visas for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and has to reach Kazakhstan by September 1 as part of his journey.
He said the complete expedition is expected to take around nine months, during which he will travel through multiple countries before reaching Saudi Arabia.
Parvaiz said his primary motivation is to visit the House of Allah and complete the Umrah pilgrimage after undertaking the journey by road.
“I expect to see the House of Allah. I will also spend the holy month of Ramadan at Masjid an-Nabawi and pray for the entire Ummah,” he said.
Despite the physical demands of the expedition, Parvaiz said he is determined to continue the journey and hopes to complete it safely.
The 29-year-old said his return to cycling after a serious football injury strengthened his resolve to undertake the long journey. He has now set out from Kashmir with the aim of reaching the holy cities of Saudi Arabia on his bicycle. (KNO)