Date:10/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/10/stories/2008031053500400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Saudi Arabia to send Zam-Zam water for Hajis

Thiruvananthapuram: In a rare gesture, Saudi Arabia has agreed to dispatch 180 tonnes of holy Zam-Zam water to be distributed among Haj pilgrims from India who could not bring it home this year. Disclosing this to reporters here recently,

Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said arrangements had been made to bring the holy water with the cooperation of Civil Aviation Ministry and Air India.

The Saudi Royal Government accepted India’s plea as a “special gesture.” The holy water is not transported in such a way under normal circumstances, Mr. Ahamed, who is in charge of Haj affairs, said. About 1.10 lakh pilgrims had gone to Makkah this year to perform Haj.

Of these, about 18,000 pilgrims, from different parts of the country, could not bring Zam-Zam water on their return. The holy water to be dispatched by the Saudi government would be distributed to the Hajis through the Haj committees in different States, he added. – PTI