Jakarta – East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak cautioned hundreds of the province's hajj pilgrims to focus more on prayer rather than shopping while on their sacred pilgrimage.

"I cannot forbid you to shop, but please, keep in mind that your initial intention for going to the Holy Land is for the hajj pilgrimage. Thus, it would be wise to spend more hours praying rather than shopping. Besides, more shopping only bring excess baggage," he said Sunday minutes before hundreds of hajj pilgrims were set to take off.

Indonesia has long been known as a country sending among the largest number of hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia every year. More than 200,000 seats are allotted for Indonesia's hajj pilgrims annually.