Azerbaijani pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijani pilgrims traveling to the Hajj in buses, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday and successfully settled, spokeswoman for the Caucasus Muslims Office Rahima Dadashova told Trend today.

The pilgrims will begin carrying out religious rites from tomorrow, she said.

The first plane with pilgrims from Azerbaijan flew from Baku this afternoon, she said.

The first group of Azerbaijani pilgrims departed to perform Hajj on 18 buses on October 23 and a second group on October 24.

Another group of pilgrims will travel on planes on October 30- 31.

Those traveling to Mecca by bus travel on the Iran - Iraq - Saudi Arabia route. Previously, the road to the holy places ran through the territory of Syria, but the route was changed due to the recent events there.

The Caucasian Muslims Office organizes pilgrimage tours to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, according to a protocol signed with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Pilgrimage.

Some 2,000 people will travel from Azerbaijan to perform Hajj in 2011. Qurban Bayram will be celebrated on November 6. A caravan of pilgrims will move on October 25-26.