Group of 51 Women Embark on Haj Sans Male Relatives, Milestone for Women's Empowerment

By: WE staff | Monday, 2 June 2025

• In 2025, 51 Delhi-based women pilgrims set out on the Haj without a male relative (Mehram)
• This is a big step in the direction of religious independence and women's empowerment
• The action is in line with an increasing number of women traveling alone to participate in the yearly Islamic pilgrimage

51 female pilgrims from Delhi have set out on their Haj pilgrimage this year without the company of male relatives, marking a significant milestone for women's empowerment (Mehram). This is in line with the growing trend of women attending the yearly Islamic pilgrimage on their own.

As he said goodbye to the pilgrims, Kausar Jahan, the chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, described the occasion as "a great example of women empowerment." "Fifty-one women are traveling from Delhi to Haj without a male relative," she stated. This is a significant advancement for the empowerment of women. The government has instructed us to guarantee their security and offer our full support. While there was some hesitancy in the past, the number of these pilgrims is growing annually.

The majorities of these women, according to Jahan, are over 45 and hail from different Northern Indian states. "Special arrangements have been made to offer the best facilities to these women," she continued.

As Haj 2025 gets underway, the Union Minister sent warmest regards to the 1,22,518 pilgrims making this holy pilgrimage. Today, the first flights took off, transporting 262 pilgrims from Hyderabad and 288 from Lucknow. The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is dedicated to making pilgrimages easy and seamless. The minister prayed for all pilgrims to have a safe, fortunate, and spiritually satisfying Haj.