The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has clearly affected the Haj pilgrimage, as there were only 3,200 applicants from Uttar Pradesh to travel in 2021, compared to last year's 29,000. The window for online and offline applications opened on November 7 and the last date for depositing the form is December 10.

Officials have said that the pandemic was one of the main reasons for a lesser number of Haj applications this year. Not even a single woman has applied under the category of 'without mehram' (only women group). Under the category, women can apply in the groups of three.