Imphal, April 30, 2026: Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, on Thursday extended his best wishes to Haj pilgrims from the state and urged them to pray for peace and harmony during their pilgrimage.
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| Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh interacts with and bids farewell to Haj pilgrims from Manipur during a ceremonial send-off at Imphal International Airport. |
A ceremonial send-off for the pilgrims was held at Imphal International Airport, where the Chief Minister and other dignitaries gathered to wish them a safe journey. The pilgrims departed from Imphal for Kolkata for their onward journey to Madinah to perform the annual Hajj.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed hope for the pilgrims’ safety and good health throughout their journey. He also appealed to them to remember Manipur in their prayers and seek blessings for lasting peace and stability in the state.
A total of 379 pilgrims from Manipur, mostly from the Meitei Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) community, were selected for this year’s Hajj under the Manipur State Haj Committee. Officials said 172 pilgrims had departed a day earlier, while the remaining 207 left Imphal on Thursday.
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The send-off programme was organised by the Directorate of Minority Affairs, Manipur and was attended by Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, MLAs Kongkham Robindro Singh and Sheikh Noorul Hassan, former MLA Y. Antas Khan, and Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing, among others.
Officials and community leaders present at the event conveyed their best wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
