Eid ul-Adha & Hajj 2024: Spiritual Tourism and Global Unity

Spiritual Tourism: The Impact of Eid ul-Adha and Hajj 2024

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 16, 2024

Eid ul-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage stand as pillars of spiritual tourism, drawing millions of Muslims from around the world to Mecca and other significant locations for profound religious experiences. This year, Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated globally on June 16 or 17, 2024, contingent upon the sighting of the crescent moon. This festival, known as the Feast of Sacrifice, honors Prophet Ibrahim's devotion and willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, symbolizing themes of faith, sacrifice, and compassion.

In 2024, the celebration of Eid ul-Adha will vary slightly worldwide based on the Islamic lunar calendar and the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon. In Saudi Arabia and several other countries, the moon sighting will take place on June 6, 2024. If the moon is seen, Dhul Hijjah will start on June 7, and Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated on June 16. If not, Dhul Hijjah will begin on June 8, making Eid ul-Adha on June 17. In India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries, the moon sighting will occur on June 7, potentially placing Eid on June 17 or June 18, depending on visibility.

Eid ul-Adha significantly boosts global travel, especially as millions of Muslims undertake the Hajj pilgrimage, one of Islam's five pillars. This pilgrimage not only reinforces religious bonds but also substantially impacts the economies of Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions. Hotels, airlines, and local businesses experience a considerable increase in activity during this period, highlighting the festival’s economic importance.

The essence of Eid ul-Adha extends beyond its religious observances, fostering a sense of global community and unity among Muslims as they gather to perform the qurbani, the ritual animal sacrifice, and share the meat with family, friends, and those in need. This act of sharing underscores the festival’s values of generosity and social solidarity. Additionally, the festival encourages charitable acts and brings together families and communities, boosting local economies through increased spending on food, clothing, and festivities.

As the festival approaches, Muslims worldwide prepare by purchasing new clothes, organizing feasts, and planning their participation in communal prayers. In many countries, special congregational prayers are held at mosques and open grounds, where the faithful come together to listen to sermons that emphasize the values of sacrifice and obedience to God. Traditional dishes and sweets, such as sheer khurma and seviyan, are prepared and enjoyed, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Eid ul-Adha also imparts profound moral and ethical teachings, reminding Muslims of the importance of faith, gratitude, and caring for others. The festival’s emphasis on sacrifice and sharing serves as a poignant reminder of the need for empathy and generosity in daily life. By encouraging acts of charity and fostering a sense of community, Eid ul-Adha helps to reinforce the core principles of Islam and promotes social cohesion.

In the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries, Muslim communities celebrate Eid ul-Adha with a blend of cultural traditions and local customs, often integrating public celebrations and community events. The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding, as non-Muslims are often invited to join in the celebrations, furthering the spirit of inclusivity.

The three-day festival of sacrifice, known as Eid al-Adha, is observed on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, which falls on the third day of the Hajj. It falls on June 16 of this year. After Eid al-Fitr, which commemorates the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast, Eid al-Adha is the second most important Muslim holiday. On this holiday, they slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some of the meat to the poor.

In a communal sense, the Hajj brings Muslims from all walks of life together to perform religious rites and acts of worship at the same time and location. These Muslims come from a variety of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of them are left with a sense of equality, humility, and togetherness as a result.

Additionally, pilgrims bring their own requests, desires, and life experiences with them. In addition to fulfilling a pilgrim's religious duty, the Hajj is, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime, profoundly spiritual event.

Muslim travelers intending to do the Hajj travel from all over the world arrive in Mecca in a pure ihram state. The ihram, which unites pilgrims from many origins, is a symbol of humility and spiritual focus. For men, this implies wearing only seamless white clothing, with the right shoulder always left uncovered and one piece wrapped around the waist and another over the left shoulder. Women can also dress in plain piece of clothing adhering to the Hijab rules and not covering their faces.

For several pilgrims, standing on the Arafat plain and praising God, pleading for forgiveness, and making supplications is the pinnacle of the Hajj experience spiritually. Other customs include "tawaf," which is the circling of the Kaaba in Mecca seven times in a counterclockwise direction.

In conclusion, Eid ul-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage are not just religious events but powerful cultural phenomena that enhance spiritual tourism, support local economies, and strengthen community bonds. As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate, the impact of these events on both the individual and collective levels highlights their enduring significance and far-reaching benefits.

FLY91 Adds Tirupati as 13th Destination, Expands Regional Network

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 24, 2026

Regional airline FLY91 has added Tirupati as its 13th destination, further expanding its regional network across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With the new addition, the airline now serves four destinations across the two states.

The airline will connect Tirupati with Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry, supporting travel for pilgrims, tourists, business travellers and students across southern India. Bookings for the new Tirupati services are now open through FLY91’s website and travel agency network.

Tirupati is one of India's major pilgrimage destinations and is home to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, which attracts millions of devotees. Beyond pilgrimage, the city is also an important educational, cultural and commercial centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Manoj Chacko, MD and CEO, FLY91, said, "The addition of Tirupati marks another important milestone in the steady expansion of our regional network and reinforces our commitment to Andhra Pradesh, where we now serve three destinations. By connecting Tirupati to 3 important cities, we are making travel across an important religious, educational and cultural corridor more convenient while improving connectivity between key regional centres. As a regional airline focused on 'Connecting Bharat' through safe and reliable air services, we remain committed to enhancing access between India's growing regional markets."

FLY91 will operate daily flights between Tirupati and Hyderabad. Flights between Tirupati and Vijayawada will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, while services between Tirupati and Rajahmundry will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

With Tirupati now added to its network, FLY91 serves Goa (Manohar International Airport, Mopa), Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Solapur, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Agatti, Kochi, Hubballi, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Tirupati. The addition strengthens FLY91’s focus on connecting regional markets and improving access between important destinations across India.

Most Read In News

Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation Strengthen Digital...

Indus Towers Limited, in collaboration with the Bharti Airte...

Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj Hosts Victoria’s Secret ‘Rome Afte...

Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, hosted an exclusive ‘Rome After ...

Punjab & Sind Bank Contributes Rs 50 Lakh to Assam Chief Min...

Punjab & Sind Bank has contributed Rs 50 lakh to the Chief M...

Storii by ITC Hotels Expands Presence in Goa with Assagao Si...

ITC Hotels Limited has expanded its presence in Goa with the...

Air India Express Begins Flights from New Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh

By Hariharan U

Published on August 19, 2026

Air India Express has commenced operations from the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada.

The airline began operations from the new airport on August 17, 2026, with 10 daily flights serving the three key domestic destinations. The inaugural flight departed for Bengaluru at 8:00 AM, with guests receiving ceremonial boarding passes to mark the launch.

The new services strengthen air connectivity for Visakhapatnam and the surrounding region, while providing travellers with additional options to connect with major business, tourism and commercial centres across southern India.

Air India Express currently operates two daily flights between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad and two daily services between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru, along with a daily service connecting Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

The Bengaluru–Visakhapatnam schedule also includes additional services on Thursdays and Saturdays, providing greater flexibility for travellers.

Flight Schedule

Route	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
Hyderabad – Visakhapatnam	07:00, 14:35	08:20, 15:55	2x Daily
Visakhapatnam – Hyderabad	08:50, 16:35	10:00, 18:00	2x Daily
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	16:50	18:30	Daily
Visakhapatnam – Bengaluru	08:00, 22:10	09:45, 23:50	2x Daily
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	05:55	07:30	Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	20:35	22:10	Thu, Sat
Visakhapatnam – Vijayawada	19:00	20:00	Daily
Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam	20:30	21:40	Daily

All timings are local and are effective from August 17, 2026.

The airline is also expanding its network from Andhra Pradesh with the addition of Tirupati, with daily flights connecting Tirupati and Hyderabad scheduled to commence from September 1, 2026.

From the same date, Air India Express will also resume its daily service on the Hyderabad–Chennai route, further strengthening connectivity between key cities in southern India.

With the latest additions, Air India Express currently serves 48 domestic and 16 international destinations, operating more than 3,000 weekly flights across India, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

The commencement of operations at Bhogapuram marks another step in the airline's network expansion strategy while strengthening connectivity to and from Visakhapatnam, one of Andhra Pradesh's important commercial, industrial and tourism centres.