Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world on Tuesday began moving from the holy city of Makkah to nearby Mina in Saudi Arabia for the start of the holy Hajj rituals.
About 3 million people are expected to take part in this year’s pilgrimage, undeterred by a crane collapse in Makkah earlier this month that killed 109 people and injured nearly 400 at Islam’s holiest site.
The first day of Hajj is known as Tarwiah Day, when pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometres southeast of Mina. Nowadays pilgrims spend their time there in prayer and reciting the Holy Quran.
The climax of the Hajj season is on Arafat Day, which falls on Wednesday. With the start of Hajj, pilgrims enter the stage of Ihram – a state of purity in which they must not wear perfume, cut their nails, or trim their hair or beards. During Ihram, men wear a seamless two-piece shroud-like white garment, symbolizing resurrection and emphasizing unity regardless of social status or nationality.
Women must wear loose dresses exposing only their faces and hands. The Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform the pilgrimage at least once in their life.
Meanwhile the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, yesterday, confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj. Chairman of the commission, Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
He said 14 pilgrims died from cardiac arrest and other ailments, while six lost their lives in the September 11 crane crash incident. Mukhtar said three Nigerians were injured at the September 11 crane crash, as against the six earlier reported.
He said all the pilgrims that submitted valid documents to the commission for visa were airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. He also said that the security situation in Saudi Arabia was tight and advised pilgrims to be orderly and to stay in Makkah.
Mr. Mukhtar also advised the pilgrims to drink more water due to the harsh weather, adding that they should only expose themselves to the sun when necessary. He said female pilgrims should move in groups and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.
On Arafat, he said the pilgrims would start moving to Mina at midnight and advised them against climbing the roof of the buses conveying them. “We have resolved at a meeting with clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authorities to start moving to Mina,” he said.
He warned clerics against inciting pilgrims against the resolution, adding that anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.
The federal government has declared Thursday 24 and Friday 25 of September as public holidays to mark the celebration of this year’s Id-El-Kabir.
