Bahraini pilgrims eagerly embark on annual ‘Umrah Ashura’ journey

AFP | Kuwait City                                 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Zahra Ayaz

Bahrainis were leaving for Saudi Arabia yesterday to conduct Umrah as part of Ashura, which lasts until Monday.

Many travel agents have confirmed that there is high demand for reservations to travel and perform Umrah, which is now known as "Umrah Ashura" or "Umrah Muharram."

It is expected that more than 7,000 Bahrainis will be travelling for Umrah, with most of the pilgrims leaving by bus from the King Fahd Causeway port, while a smaller number will fly from Bahrain International Airport to King Abdulaziz International Airport.

Muhammad Abdul, the Director of Reservations at the Seasons Campaign, stated, "We have been organising trips for more than 20 years to perform Umrah rituals on Ashura, and the demand for these trips has been increasing during this particular period."

He further added, "People take advantage of the official Ashura Muharram holiday to complete the Umrah and perform the circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba." Umrah performers usually travel to Makkah Al-Mukarramah via different international airports to facilitate the distance, reduce fatigue, and make better use of their time.

Ahmed Al-Ansari, the Owner of Al-Marwa Travel for Hajj and Umrah, said, "In Bahrain, people have been performing Umrah on the Ashura of Muharram because Bahrain is the only nation with an official holiday during this time, and for this reason, this Umrah is known as the Umrah of Bahrainis."

He also noted that, following the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, there is usually less crowding in the Grand Mosque in Mecca during this time, allowing Bahrainis to take advantage of this period and the brief vacation to be close to the Grand Mosque in Mecca.