Provincial governor Sitthichai Sakda, Associate Professor Ismail Ali representing the Sheikul Islam Office, and thousands of relatives witnessed the ceremony, which was held amid tight security.&nbsp; 
The pilgrims are travelling on four flights Monday and Tuesday, bound for Medina. 
The annual Hajj, which Islam requires its followers to attend at least once in their lifetime, currently draws about three million pilgrims from around the world.&nbsp; 
Nearly 9,000 Thai citizens will be making the pilgrimage this year. Thai Airways International has arranged 31 chartered flights &ndash; the four from Narathiwat, nine from Suvarnabhumi Airport, two from Krabi and 16 from Hat Yai.

Blessings for Hajj pilgrims in Narathiwat

Deputy Interior Minister Suthi Boonmak presided at a ceremony at Narathiwat Airport on Monday to bless 1,151 area residents making the holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.