The annual five-day Haj pilgrimage began on Monday amid regional tensions in West Asia, as more than 1.6 million Muslims from around the world commenced their journey from the holy city of Mecca to the tent city of Mina in Saudi Arabia.Pilgrims will spend the night there before moving to the plains of Arafat at dawn on Tuesday for the main ritual of Haj prayers.Around 1.75 lakh pilgrims from India are participating in this year’s pilgrimage.The faithful have been arriving in Saudi Arabia for the Haj against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war and broader regional tensions and uncertainty.On the first day, many pilgrims in Mecca converge at a vast tent camp in the nearby desert. Prior to that, they circle the cube-shaped Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in sweltering temperatures.For pilgrims, Haj is a deeply moving spiritual experience and an opportunity to seek forgiveness from God and the remission of past sins.In India, home to a large Muslim minority, pilgrimage preparations have largely proceeded as normal. However, high fuel prices have pushed up travel costs for pilgrims.The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has launched a dedicated “Haj Suvidha” app to provide digital services, flight confirmations, and emergency tracking for pilgrims.MoMA also negotiates air charter operations to make the journey more affordable, ensuring transparent pricing and minimizing airfare hikes. It works closely with the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to manage camps, medical screening, and on-ground logistics during the pilgrimage.