Aksar Pooche Jaane Wale Sawaal.

HCI (Haj Committee of India) government ka program hai — cost kam (~₹3.5L–4.2L, embarkation point par depend), lekin seat lottery (Qurrah) se milti hai aur lifetime mein sirf ek baar ja sakte hain. HGO (Haj Group Organiser) private operator hain — direct booking hoti hai, koi lottery nahi, aur baar baar ja sakte hain, lekin cost zyada (~₹5.5L–11L+) hoti hai.

Ye har saal badalta hai aur state, category (general, senior citizen, ladies-without-mehram) aur demand par depend karta hai. General category mein competition zyada hota hai. Exact odds Haj Committee announce karta hai — hajcommittee.gov.in par current data dekhein.

Once-in-lifetime rule sirf HCI-se-HCI par lagta hai — agar aap HCI se Hajj kar chuke hain, to dobara apne naam par HCI se nahi ja sakte. Ek exception hai: repeater kisi lady pilgrim ya 65+ pilgrim ke Mehram/companion ke roop mein dobara HCI se ja sakta hai (additional charges ke saath), lekin sirf tab jab family mein koi first-time Mehram/companion available na ho. HGO route par ye restriction bilkul nahi hai — aap HGO se baar baar Hajj kar sakte hain, aur pehle HCI se gaye hon tab bhi HGO se ja sakte hain.

HGO packages mein generally Haram ke zyada paas hotel (0–3 km, tier-wise), air-conditioned shifting (Mina/Arafat), better group services aur flexible departure dates milte hain. Premium aur luxury categories mein 5-star accommodation bhi available hota hai. Trade-off hai cost — HGO HCI se kaafi mehnga hota hai.

Hajj 2027 ke liye HCI application window 20 July 2026 ko band ho gayi hai (Haj Committee of India Circular No. 2 ke mutabiq). Apply hajcommittee.gov.in par pilgrim registration se ya Haj Suvidha App se hota hai — documents online upload hote hain, aur advance payment banking channel se jama karni hoti hai. Miss ho gaya ya band ho chuki hai? HGO route abhi bhi open hai, ya agle saal (Hajj 2028) ke liye apply karein — window generally July–August mein khulti hai.

1) Ministry of Minority Affairs ki HGO list se verified operator choose karein (city + budget + category A–D); 2) Package compare karein — hotel distance, shifting/non-shifting, tripartite agreement padh lein; 3) Documents submit aur advance banking channel se de; 4) HGO Saudi visa process karta hai — BRN generate hota hai, Nusuk Card arrival par milta hai.

Agar Qurrah mein select nahi hue to advance full refund hoti hai — koi deduction nahi. Select hone ke baad withdraw karne par date-wise penalty lagti hai: 30 Sep 2026 tak ₹5,000, Oct-Nov 2026 mein ₹10,000–₹25,000, Dec 2026 mein ₹30,000–₹35,000, Jan 1–15 2027 mein ₹40,000, Jan 16–31 2027 mein ₹50,000, aur 31 Jan 2027 ke baad 100% forfeit. Death/medical emergency mein 10 din ke andar report karein to sirf ₹2,300 deduction hoti hai (10 din baad ₹10,000) — apply how-to-apply page par full schedule dekhein.

Qurrah application window band hone ke turant baad — last week of July 2026 mein — hone ki expectation hai (official Announcement ke mutabiq). Result hajcommittee.gov.in par pilgrim login se, Haj Suvidha App par, ya State Haj Committee ke office se check kar sakte hain. Registered mobile number par SMS bhi aata hai. Selected hue to advance amount ₹1,52,300 10 August 2026 tak jama karna zaroori hai — koi extension nahi milega.

Hajj 2027 ke liye HCI ki official requirement hai ki passport kam se kam 31.12.2027 tak valid ho (Guidelines for Haj-2027 ke mutabiq) — ye general "6 mahine" wale international travel norm se zyada strict hai. Agar passport expiring hai to pehle renew karwa lein — renewal mein 4–8 hafta lag sakta hai.

Saudi Arabia ne Hajj/Umrah ke liye Meningitis ACWY vaccine mandatory ki hui hai. Apply karne se pehle ye lagwa lein — certificate bhi chahiye. Cost ~₹2,000–4,000 range mein hoti hai. Oral Polio vaccine bhi sabhi pilgrims ke liye mandatory hai — yatra shuru hone se kam se kam 6 hafte pehle lagwayein (Guidelines for Haj-2026, Section 29). KSA mein disembarkation ke time second dose diya jaata hai.

HCI route mein 65 aur usse zyada umra ke pilgrims ko Qurrah mein sabse pehli priority milti hai (companion mandatory). Kuch gambhir health conditions (jaise dialysis-wali kidney failure, advanced heart/liver/lung disease, dementia, active cancer treatment, high-risk late pregnancy) ke saath applicants Hajj ke liye eligible nahi hote — "deferral" nahi, seedha exclusion hota hai. Persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) alag category hain — wo apply kar sakte hain, bas ek able-bodied companion (age 18–60) unke saath hona mandatory hai. HGO route mein age restriction nahi hai lekin medical fitness certificate dono routes ke liye required hota hai.

HCI route ke liye all-in ₹3.7L–4.7L budget rakhein (base embarkation-point cost + vaccinations + pocket money + misc). HGO ke liye category ke hisaab se ₹5.5L (Economy D) se ₹11L+ (Luxury A) tak. Pocket money ke liye Saudi Arabia mein ₹15,000–30,000 alag rakhein. TCS (2%) aur travel insurance bhi factor karein.

Tax Collected at Source (TCS) 1 April 2026 se overseas tour packages par 5% se badh ke rules change hue hain — Hajj/Umrah packages par 2% applicable ho sakta hai. Ye actually tax credit hota hai jo ITR mein adjust ho sakta hai. Exact applicability apne accountant ya tour operator se confirm karein.

HCI route mein Ladies-without-Mehram (LWM) category hai — 45+ umar ki women group mein (4 ya zyada) mehram ke bina ja sakti hain. HGO route mein ye category operators par depend karti hai — kuch allow karte hain, kuch nahi. 45 se kam umar ki women ke liye generally mehram required hota hai.

Hajj Islam ke paanch pillars mein se ek hai — specific dino mein (Dhul Hijjah 8–13) specific rituals (Mina, Arafat wuquf, Muzdalifah, Jamarat) kiye jaate hain. Umrah chhota pilgrimage hai — saal bhar any time ja sakte hain, koi specific rituals schedule nahi. Hajj physically demanding aur organizationally complex hota hai.