Madurese toddler goes to Mecca

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Supplied with formula and a pacifier, five-year-old Nadiyah Rahmawati binti Sukron from Bangkalan on Madura island, East Java, is going on this year's adult-dominated haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Aside from formula, Nadiyah's parents have taken all her favorite items with them, including a pillow and a bolster, to help make the pilgrimage a rewarding experience for her.

"She cannot sleep if her favorite pillow and bolster is not around," Sukron told Antara before leaving the haj hostel for Juanda Airport in Surabaya on Saturday morning and flying to Mecca.

Sukron, a trader in Madura, says he always carries a baby's bottle and a bolster for his daughter.

Nadiyah, who attends kindergarten in Geleuk village, Sepuluh district in Bangkalan regency, is not the first family member to accompany her parents to Mecca.

Three of Nadiyah's older siblings went on the pilgrimage in previous haj seasons. Ainul, who has since passed away, went on the haj at 10 years old, Nuswulah at the ages of five and 12, and Sahrul Aman at three.

"All this is due to God Almighty's blessings that has enabled us to take our children along with us on the haj pilgrimage, although at their young ages, they are not obligated to do so. Hopefully they will grow up to be pious," said Nadiyah's mother, Fahriah.

Nadiyah, however, is not the only toddler among the pilgrims. Two other toddlers from East Java have been taken on this year's pilgrim.

One of them is five-year-old Rosya Marzuki. "She also cannot let go of her bolster," said Surabaya's haj embarkation committee spokesman Saifuddin Zaini.

The other is six-and-a-half-year old Maula Matlais Sobihah Al Masbariyah from Malang regency, who left for a third time on the haj pilgrimage after previously going in 2003 and 2004.

On Saturday alone, Surabaya embarkation committee dispatched 18,169 pilgrims and 205 officials to Mecca.

More than 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims will go to Mecca this year.