Muslim pilgrims flock to Mena<\/p>\n
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters): Hundreds of thousands of Muslim
\npilgrims left the holy city of Mecca for the plains of Mena on
\nSaturday, following in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad at
\nthe start of the annual haj pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
The Arab News daily said 53 Indian pilgrims had died from
\nnatural causes. All the dead were over 60 years old, it quoted
\nIndian Consul-General Syed Akbaruddin as saying.<\/p>\n
The white-clad faithful, carrying mats and white umbrellas to
\nprotect them from the sun, left Mecca in thousands of cars and
\nbuses or on foot, heading for Mena 12 km away on a five-day
\nritual to retrace the route Muhammad took 14 centuries ago.<\/p>\n
Police helicopters hovered overhead as policemen directed
\ntraffic and emergency services stood by for any incidents.
\nHighways and roads in the area were congested as vehicles
\nadvanced slowly among crowds on foot.<\/p>\n
Despite a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, pilgrims were
\nclearly excited about starting the haj.<\/p>\n
\"I am very happy,\" Ahmed, from Ghana, told Reuters as he
\nboarded a bus in Mecca. \"I couldn't wait. This is a journey of a
\nlifetime.\"<\/p>\n
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can afford the trip must
\nperform the haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once.<\/p>\n
Around two million Muslims from 100 countries will take part
\nin the haj, which symbolizes the story of Abraham, seeking
\nrepentance, purification and spiritual renewal.<\/p>\n
The pilgrims will spend Saturday night in tent camps at Mena,
\nwhere Saudi authorities have prepared 44,000 fire-proof tents
\nequipped with air-conditioners and safe cooking stoves.<\/p>\n
They will pray, read the Koran or rest during the night before
\nascending to Mount Arafat after sunrise on Sunday for the climax
\nof the haj. On Arafat, they will spend the day praying for
\nforgiveness.<\/p>\n
'Religion completed'<\/p>\n
\"I feel highly fulfilled, highly delighted,\" Nigerian Abu Bakr
\nMustapha, 23, said. \"Today I complete my religion.\"<\/p>\n
Saudi officials said the haj, which has been marred in recent
\nyears by tragedies, was proceeding smoothly so far. Saudi Arabia
\nhas spent several billion dollars over the past decade improving
\nfacilities as well as roads and electricity networks.<\/p>\n
King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah will move to the area on
\nSunday to supervise the movement of the pilgrims to Arafat, the
\nmost grueling leg of the haj, local newspapers reported.<\/p>\n
The authorities will distribute 10 million bottles of mineral
\nwater and one million free meals to the pilgrims over the next
\ntwo days. Some 40,000 workers will clean up after the pilgrims.<\/p>\n
Mecca's water department will pump 10 million cubic metres of
\nfresh water, mainly for sanitation, over the next week, the daily
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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