Six to go on Haj pilgrimage on bicycles

Hyderabad, June 21 (UNI) Six autorickshaw drivers, one of them 72 years old, will be going on pilgrimage to Haj on bicycles.

Their journey, which will begin on August 7, will last three years.

Speaking to reporters here, 72 year-old-Md Shariff, the leader said they plan to reach New Delhi first and make their way out of India via Amritsar. ''We are yet to receive the maps from our friends. We were making preparations to begin the journey to Haj on bicycles on August 7,'' he said.

'I was born on August 7. August is the eighth month of the year and 2006, the sixth year of the new millennium. This makes it ''786'', which is auspicious for Muslims'. So, I want to start my journey on August 7 along with my five companions,'' he said.

Asked if they had approached the state Haj committee, Mr Shariff said, ''people told us that the Haj committees were for those who fly, not for those who want to pedal their way''.

The other five auto drivers ; S K Burhan (68), Mohd Yousuf Khan (60), Mohd Abdul Khadar (54), Masoom ALi and Wahed - Ur- Rahman are also mentally preparing themselves for the long journey, Mr Shariff, who was leading the team, said.

UNI AP VV AD RAI0908