As Haj pilgrims clad in ihram—men in two-piece, unstitched white fabric and women in loose-fitting, modest clothing—exit from Haj terminals in Jeddah or Medina, waiting luxury cars transfer them to five-star hotels facing the Haram Sharif. Located at almost a whispering distance from the sacred sanctuaries in the two cities, these high-end opulent hotel rooms provide a vantage view of the holy sites. Pilgrims seek divine blessings and send salams to the holy Prophet as they gaze upon the sacred sites. This year's Haj is scheduled for the last week of May.
The Rise of Lavish Haj Packages
This account pertains to pilgrims who have opted for "lavish Haj packages" to perform Haj in comfort. These comforts come with a substantial price tag. Many super-rich Muslims choose to utilize convenience at almost every step during the holy trip. The comforts are reflected in accommodation—both in hotels and in the tent city of Mina and the plains of Arafat—as well as in the vehicles they use and the food and beverages offered.
"The package is tailored to suit the demand and taste of rich pilgrims who are ready to pay for these luxuries. This is a religious journey, no doubt, but why should pilgrims not travel and stay in comfort if they have enough money to pay for it?" asks Yusuf Ahmed Kherada, a Mumbai-based leading Haj and Umrah tour organiser with 36 years of experience. The trend, according to Kherada, gained momentum after actor Aamir Khan requested "special, comfortable accommodation and travel" when he accompanied his mother for Haj in 2011. "We made special requests to the Saudi authorities, and arrangements were made at a premium cost," adds Kherada. Once this was done for Aamir and his mother, demands for high-end services poured in from many others with deep pockets.
Luxury in the Tent City of Mina and Arafat
Nowhere is this "luxurious stay" more evident during the 20-day or 40-day stay in Saudi Arabia than in the tent city of Mina and the plains of Arafat. "The tents made of gypsum boards are air-conditioned. Pilgrims who have paid a premium price are accommodated at Kidana towers or in very comfortable tents at Mina. These pilgrims are allotted tents close to the Jamarat, the pillars that pilgrims ritually stone," explains Imran Alvi, another tour organiser with two decades of experience.
Ebrahim Hashim Kolsawala (Baba Bhai), a senior tour organiser in Mumbai, notes that the "luxury package" is non-shifting, meaning pilgrims under this category do not have to move to any other hotels and stay in proximity to the Haram Sharif. In Mecca, Haram Sharif is the massive sacred precinct that encloses the cube-shaped ancient Kaaba, while in Medina, this sacred sanctuary refers to the Prophet's Mosque, which also houses his tomb. The cost of accommodation also depends on how far or near to these holy sites the pilgrims are housed.
Premium Dining and Services
If premier class accommodation and travel are offered to these affluent pilgrims—out of around 175,000 India's Haj quota this year, approximately 125,000 are going through the Haj Committee of India while the rest choose private tour organisers—food cannot be ignored. Kherada says he carries cooks from India to prepare dishes for a multi-cuisine buffet, while Alvi maintains his caterer has employed Indian cooks. From dal makhani to kebabs, mutton korma, paya, Mughlai, and continental, the guests have a wide choice. "Food is not just about filling the stomach. It is about getting a feeling that we are at home even if we are away from home," says government contractor Shahid Shaikh, who has chosen the services of Kherada's Hajtour company in Mumbai.
Criticism of Ostentatious Spending
However, there are some who criticise this "display of wealth" for the holy trip. "Haj should be done with modest expenses. The money spent on luxury Haj should be used to fund welfare schemes in the community," says Nasir Jamal, a former member of the Central Haj Committee.
