Hajj journey begins

TDT | Agencies

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

More than one million pilgrims streamed into a giant tented city near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, under a scorching sun yesterday as the hajj pilgrimage got underway.

Robed worshippers arrived on buses or on foot, many shaded by umbrellas, at the vast encampment after performing the "tawaf" -- walking seven times around the Kaaba, the giant black cube at Mecca's Grand Mosque.

Chanting "God is great" and "God, we answer your call", many were awash with spiritual fervour as they followed in the footsteps of the Prophet Mohammed's final pilgrimage nearly 1,400 years ago.

"It's very, very hot," said Fahad Azmar, 31, from Pakistan. "But I thank God for the opportunity to be here."

They will spend the night at Mina, a rocky valley several kilometres (miles) outside Mecca, before climbing Mount Arafat for the pilgrimage's climax on Saturday.

Accommodation in Mina's air-conditioned tents is organised by nationality and price, depending on how much each pilgrim paid for their hajj package.

"There should be more space between the beds, and the air-conditioning doesn't work very well... but the hajj is all about patience," said Intisham al-Ahi, a 44-year-old Pakistani who was sharing a tent with dozens of his compatriots.

'Carry an umbrella' Outside, misting stations were installed to cool the faithful, and security guards splashed passers-by with water.

Most of the hajj is outdoors but Saturday will be particularly testing for the worshippers, when they spend most of the day praying on Mount Arafat.

A text message sent to pilgrims on Thursday instructed them to "drink water regularly, more than two litres daily" and to "always carry an umbrella", warning that temperatures could climb to 48 degrees Celsius.

Many pilgrims said they would pray for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, more than eight months into the Israel-Hamas war that has left tens of thousands dead.

Some 2,000 Palestinians are conducting the hajj at the special invitation of King Salman, official media said.

Last year's hajj drew more than 1.8 million pilgrims, according to official figures, after authorities lifted pandemic-era restrictions and scrapped age limits.