India’s Haj Mission won two prestigious awards at this year’s Khitamahu Misk ceremony in Saudi Arabia, marking a historic first for the country. The Labbaytum Awards, given annually by the Saudi Haj Ministry to recognise excellence in pilgrim services, were presented to the Indian Haj Mission under the Best Haj Coordination and Communication category. The ceremony marks the formal conclusion of the Haj season.

 

Consul General Fahad Suri and Consul Haj Sadaf Choudhary represented India at the event, which celebrated outstanding performance by Haj missions from across the world. In a statement, the Indian Haj Mission said the recognition reflects the collective dedication, teamwork, and commitment of everyone involved in the Haj operations. The mission extended gratitude to the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs for their guidance and support.

 

This year, approximately 175,000 Indian pilgrims performed the Haj. Officials credited the awards to coordinated efforts in ensuring the smooth facilitation and welfare of pilgrims throughout the season. The Indian mission also thanked Saudi authorities, local service providers, and partner agencies for their cooperation in making the pilgrimage comfortable, safe, and spiritually fulfilling for Indian pilgrims. The Labbaytum Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in Haj mission performance among the dozens of countries that send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia each year.