42,000 Pilgrims Left in Limbo: A sudden cut in India’s Hajj quota leaves thousands of Indian Muslims, including children, unable to fulfill their sacred pilgrimage in 2025
In a surprising move, Saudi Arabia has sharply reduced India’s Hajj quota from 52,000 to just 10,000 for the 2025 pilgrimage season, causing deep concern and disappointment across the Indian Muslim community. The decision has left around 42,000 Indian pilgrims unable to embark on the annual religious journey, for which many had already completed their preparations and paperwork, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Adding to the distress, the Hajj Committee of India issued a circular confirming that all applications for children under 12 have been cancelled, following Saudi Arabia’s newly introduced age restriction policy. This development has directly affected 292 children across India, including 90 from Gujarat alone.
Community leaders and tour operators are voicing serious concerns over what they describe as “negligence” on the part of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. They believe better coordination and negotiation could have helped avoid such a large-scale disappointment for Indian Muslims, especially after pilgrims had invested time, hope, and finances into preparing for the journey.
The drastic quota cut and a new age restriction have shattered the dreams of thousands of Indian Muslims, leaving families disheartened just weeks before Hajj 2025
This year also marks the first time that Saudi Arabia has imposed an age limit on the pilgrimage, banning children below the age of 12 from participating. The decision has affected hundreds of families, some of whom had planned the spiritual journey together.
The Hajj pilgrimage, expected to begin in early May 2025, is a once-in-a-lifetime aspiration for many believers. The abrupt quota reduction and the introduction of new rules have created a wave of confusion and sorrow across the country, especially for those whose dreams have been indefinitely postponed.
