Haj pilgrims due to arrive home today<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The first batch of the nearly 200,000
\nIndonesians who went on the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia are
\ndue to arrive at six different airports today.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher made a last minute
\ninspection yesterday at the Pondok Gede Haj Dormitory in Jakarta,
\nand flew to Surabaya and Ujungpandang on a similar mission.<\/p>\n
His office, which coordinates the haj pilgrimage, will not
\nhold official welcoming ceremonies for the first returnees.<\/p>\n
"These ceremonies are a waste of time, energy and money,"
\nTarmizi said during the inspection at Pondok Gede.<\/p>\n
"Pilgrims are already tired after the rituals in the Holy
\nLand. More ceremonies await them when they reach their hometowns.
\nLet's not burden them with more official functions," he said.<\/p>\n
The only exception is for the first flight arriving at
\nAdisumarmo Airport in Surakarta, Central Java, he said.<\/p>\n
An official thanksgiving ceremony is planned at Adisumarmo
\nbecause this is the first time the city has been used as an
\nembarkation and disembarkation point for haj pilgrims.<\/p>\n
Seven wide-bodied jets carrying pilgrims will land at the
\nHalim Perdana Kusuma airport in Jakarta, four in Juanda,
\nSurabaya, one at Polonia airport in Medan, three at Adisumarmo,
\nthree at Hasanuddin airport in Ujungpandang, and two at Sepinggan
\nairport in Balikpapan.<\/p>\n
Not every Indonesian pilgrim survived the grueling rituals.
\nThe Ministry of Religious Affairs said 342 people have died,
\nmostly because of old age and respiratory problems. The number is
\nexpected to grow by the time the last flight arrives on May 19.<\/p>\n
Last year, 570 out of 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims died during
\nthe pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
Officials hope the return of the pilgrims will be as orderly
\nas their departure last month.<\/p>\n
"If their departures were smooth, so then should their return
\nand that they will all carry the title of haji mabrur (haj that
\nis blessed by God)," Tarmizi said. (11)<\/p>",
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