Travel items recommended

Dear friends,
            Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarkatuhu

TRAVEL ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR HAJ

Documents:

- Notarized copies of your passport, in case your passport is lost

- Pilgrims arrival photo-ID Card, issued upon arrival to Jeddah. You should carry this ID Card at all times, better to have it around your neck

Ten passport size photographs for use by authorities for various ID cards and other documents and procedures

- Vaccination Record Book which will be given to us at Hajj Office

- Names and addresses of hotels you are staying in  Makkah and Madinah. If you are lost, you can call them or get directions( It is  must ....as once we forgot the route to over building in Mecca and it was really a nightmare but Allah subhanawatala made us reach the building safely

- Plastic/steel  bracelet with the name, address and telephone number of your Group leader Establishment printed on it. Make sure you carry this bracelet at all times. In case you are lost or have an accident, this bracelet will let you get to the right people.

      And for sure these things are for our safety .

Money

Saudi Riyal

 - On departure Hajj committee of India will give us Saudi Riyals. We were four so the amount they gave us was sufficient but in case you need the currency better to carry some currency along with you and keep it very safely.

Journey from Hyderabad to Saudi Arabia
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarkatuhu
             After immunization from Haj committee of India and completing all the formalities we left for Saudi Arabia. The way Haj committee people did farewell was awesome. We left for airport from Haj house nampally, really it is appreciable the way Haj committee people took care of each and every haji, we were not allowed to carry our suitcases they helped in every possible way and it felt very special.
        From airport we started our journey to saudia arabia enchanting the dua
      سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا، وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُون
Glory to Him who has brought this [vehicle] under our control, though we were unable to control it [ourselves], and indeed, to Our Lord we will surely return.

As we entered the flight everyone started enchanting
 Labbayak Allaahumma labbayk,
Labbayk laa shareeka laka labbayk,
 "innal-hamda, wanni'mata,
laka walmulk, laa shareeka laka.

  We started from hyderabad in ihram and read dua for umra in the middle of the flight. After 5-6 hours we landed at Jeddah airport. 
  From there to collect the luggage it took around 2 hour then we started to the Mecca in the buses.
My Mecca experience I will share in my next post.
Jazakallah khair

Packing and Clothes

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarkatuhu,
            Dear friends in this post I will discuss about packing the stuff. The information given by the Hajj committee regarding the size of the suitcases should  be followed very strictly and one extra bag for Mina should be there. When we went to Mina as ladies and gents were separate and each time it is not possible to go to the gents tent it is better that ladies should pack their own bag for mina, which should include tooth brush, tooth paste, a soap, a soapcase, a towel, a water bottle and of course mobile phone with good battery back up.
         Now for the people who like to cook their own food then for the period they reside in mecca they should carry all the cooking needs, utensils etc., cooktop is provided by the building people.Pack dry fruits and some jam, pickle packets too
CLOTHES:
       For men the cotton kurta pyjamas are best, at least 4-5 sets should be carried. Ehram at least two sets one of cotton cloth and the other one which is towel fabric. Depending on the season and weather they can be used. The waist belt is compulsory and slippers atleast two pair.
      For ladies cotton clothing is best and with cotton dupattas, those who are wearing veil should take care of clothing as it should be very light and of cotton. Take 5 - 6 pair of cotton shirt shalwar while stitching it should be kept in mind that they should be little loose and bottom should not be too lengthy. To keep the valuables we made a zip pocket in the shalwar itself.  By the grace of Allah subhanwatala we did not miss even a single needle which we took if in emergency we require it..
    The veil should be of light fabric and if possible not black some different light colour and do remember to check all the dresses and veil before packing. We washed all the clothes after getting it stitched then ironed and packed.
    Coming to the slippers any comfortable slippers can be carried, we packed three pairs but all came back as it ease i did not loose. But my mother in law, father in law and husband lost their pairs.So better to pack extra. Keep the slipper bag always in your back pack so that when you enter the Mecca shareef you can put your slippers in the bag and put it in the shoe rack, do remember the shoe rack and its place as there are so many same type of shoe racks.
     Well dear friends why I elaborated each and every thing because we are in the journey and we cannot stop to purchase things anywhere in between every time thus proper packing and little adjustment can make things easier.
   Jazakallah khair

Preparation day 1

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarkatuhu,
              Now as we were about to go for hajj, it was time for preparation. My mother in law and father in law were also coming with us so we went through all the preliminary health tests and visited the doctors. Here at this point I suggest that Hajj requires lot of physical stress thus one must be in good health and prepare oneself . We started to go for walking daily and changed our diets too.Hajj requires lot of patience thus we should be always calm and focused.
             The Hajj committee of India will arrange for classes I personally feel that one should attend all the classes and be aware of all the things. With these classes one should go through different books on Hajj.
            Hajj is a sprititual journey thus always think of Allah subhanawtala and be thankful that you are chosen for Hajj. Now you are the guest of Allah so feel lucky and be ready.

Hajj Journey

Assalamalaikum warahmatullahi wabarkatuhu

                        I am very glad to share my hajj journey details with you. May Allah subhanawtaala give chance to each and every muslim to do hajj in their life time. The day when my husband told me that we have to go for hajj I was really very excited and thankful to Allah for such a nice thought from my husband. I was much happy because I reverted to islam which was the first best thing then the Hajj.....The day our names were drawn by hajj committee of India we were very happy and little bit worried about the packing and other things but Allah subhhanawtala made this journey very easy. All thanks to Hajj committee of India I really appreciate the work they do for every Haji. in my next post I will discuss from the Day 1 how my journey was. Jazakallahkhair