From Kashmir to the Ka’ba: A Journey to the Faith of the Aged Pilgrims

The holy pilgrimage of Hajj is the long-standing wish of every Indian Muslim. The Ribats built in Hejaz and the precious gifts presented to the two sacred shrines by Indians show how fascinated these people are with the holy land. The majority of travelogues written in Urdu during the 19th and 20th centuries discuss visiting Mecca and Medina. How Indian Muslims perform the Hajj is partially predetermined by Urdu travelogues and Indian archives: the customs of seeing off and welcoming the Hajis, the process of applying for a pilgrimage passport, the return routes, shipping lines and their fares, and souvenirs. This article looks at the Hajj pilgrimage of Muslims of Kashmir, India, in the past.