A 30-year-old man from Kerala, who began his long journey of 8,640 km on foot to perform the Haj, entered Mangaluru on Thursday evening.
The Muslim community of the coastal city received him warmly and with great enthusiasm.
A large crowd also greeted him at the Talapady border. Shihab Chottur started his journey on June 2nd from Athavanad near Velachery in the Malappuram district of Kerala.
He stayed at the Juma Masjid in Pumpwell before returning for his trip on Friday. Shihab has a supermarket in Kerala.
He has been preparing for the last eight months to perform Haj in 2023.
He has promised to travel to six countries without travelling in any vehicle. You must cross the roads of India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Kuwait to reach Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims in Saudi Arabia.
Also, Read Explained: What is the start of the monsoon and what does an early start mean in Kerala? His goal is to run 8,640 km in 280 days and walk an average of 25 km a day.
Shihab has received help from State Union Secretary of State V Muraleedharan and several others to make this trip successful.
Its route passes through the states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and across the Wagah border into Pakistan. Also read Haj Yatra 2022: 2072 people performing the Haj in Rajasthan.
Carrying a 10kg backpack consisting of some t-shirts, pants, sheets and an umbrella, Shihab is strong-willed and determined to complete his journey.
He hides in mosques along the way at night and pushes forward every day with the support and cooperation of his family and supporters.
