Muslim pilgrims flock to Mecca for first post-pandemic haj

MECCA, Saudi Arabia, July 1 (Reuters) – 1000’s of pilgrims began arriving within the holy metropolis of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Friday, amongst some a million Muslims anticipated to attend the 2022 haj pilgrimage season after two years of main disruption attributable to the COVID pandemic.

Wrapped in white robes, with some carrying umbrellas in opposition to the burning desert solar, tons of carried out the primary ritual of the haj, which includes strolling in a circle across the Kaaba, the sacred constructing on the centre of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

“Reward be God… It is unimaginable to explain my emotions proper now,” mentioned Ahmed Sayed Mahmoud, an Egyptian pilgrim. “Being within the Grand Mosque and within the land of the 2 holy mosques makes me very completely happy.”

Saudi Arabia, residence to Islam’s holiest websites in Mecca and Medina, allowed again international travellers this yr to carry out the haj. Just a few thousand Saudi residents and residents attended the annual pilgrimage within the final two years as COVID-19 wreaked havoc throughout the worldwide economic system and curtailed journey.

Nevertheless authorities have mentioned just one million individuals can be a part of the 2022 season, lower than half of pre-pandemic ranges, and entry is restricted to pilgrims aged 18 to 65 who’ve been totally vaccinated or immunised in opposition to the virus and don’t endure from persistent illnesses.

SECURITY

Safety officers blended with pilgrims contained in the mosque. An internet of surveillance cameras oversaw its environment and checkpoints managed entry to town to assist guarantee an incident-free haj, which has been marred prior to now by lethal stampedes, fires and riots.

Through the years, the dominion has spent billions of {dollars} on making one of many world’s largest spiritual gatherings safer. Haj, a once-in-a-lifetime responsibility for each able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, is a serious supply of revenue for the federal government from worshippers’ lodging, transport, charges and presents.

In 2019, the final yr earlier than the pandemic struck, some 2.6 million individuals carried out the haj, whereas round 19 million took half within the umrah, one other type of pilgrimage to Mecca which – not like the haj – could be carried out at any time of the yr.

An financial reform plan of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman goals to extend umrah and haj capability to 30 million pilgrims yearly and to generate 50 billion riyals ($13.32 billion) of revenues by 2030.

Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi
Modifying by Gareth Jones

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