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