Pilgrimage starts off hopeful and joyful journey (4)

I believe the answer is:

hajj

'pilgrimage' is the definition.
(Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca)

'starts off hopeful and joyful journey' is the wordplay.
'starts off' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'hopeful and joyful journey' is 'HAJJ'.

(Other definitions for hajj that I've seen before include "religious journey" , "pilgrimage"" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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