Hajj 2026: Why pilgrims from Kerala could get more benefit from the underfilled seats in UP, Kashmir

The draw of lots for selecting pilgrims for Hajj 2026 was held at Hajj Committee Office in Mumbai on Wednesday. Both the selection and waiting list for every state have been published on the Committee websites.

Under the government quota, the country has been allocated 1,94,616 berths, and the number allotted to each state is determined proportionally to each state's Muslim population. As per norms, the unfilled berths in any state can be divided amongst other states. If such quota allocation happens, Kerala might benefit from the system. Though there is only 5,766 seats for Kerala, a total of 27,123 people applied from Kerala, out of which 11,037 are men and 16,086 are women. 

Also read: Hajj 2026: How to check your Qurrah result; details of advance payments, livestream

 

In states like Uttar Pradesh, the number of applicants is nowhere near the quota allocated for them. While the state has a quota of over 30,000, there are only 13,000 applications for Hajj 2026 as of August 1, the first deadline. The last date was later extended to August 7. The total number of pilgrims who went on Hajj last year in Uttar Pradesh was just 15,000 against a quota of 30,000. Of that, only 13,600 individuals went on the pilgrimage.

The fall in UP numbers is significant as the state often tops the number of pilgrims. Other states with a large number of pilgrims include Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

As for Maharashtra, which has 12,743 total seats, just behind Uttar Pradesh, a couple of seats are vacant, with only 12,443 applications still vacant.

Jammu and Kashmir too witnessed a fall in the number of applicants, for the second consecutive year, with only 29 per cent of the total quota filled. Even with a huge muslim population, Jammu witnessed only 66 applications for even the 20-day Short Hajj programme.

 

India