Culture

Saudi Security Tight as Three Million Pilgrims Join Hajj (Updated)

by Jordan Yerman | December 6, 2008 at 09:41 am

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The annual Hajj is underway, in which Muslims make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. This year, it runs from December 7-11.

Update: The crowd is bigger than expected, with up to three million people showing up.

So far, no major problems have developed organisers said, although a record number of people have come from outside Saudi Arabia for the event and media say the total number of participants may reach three million.

Keep an eye on the media page for this story, as we have some great firsthand photos.

Leaving the tent city of Mina early on Sunday, the pilgrims gathered for a day of reflection and prayer at the foot of Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad gave his farewell sermon

Fraught with tragedy during recent years, the event suffers from stampedes, attacks and violence. This year, Saudi authorities are beefing up security measures ahead of the pilgrimage which sees over two million visitors to Mecca.

For the first time, the authorities have brought in sophisticated United States-built helicopters to guard against possible attack during the world's largest pilgrimage, which has often been blighted by tragedy.

About two million Muslims are expected join the annual ritual, which this year begins on Saturday, including several hundred thousand Saudis and residents of the kingdom and at least 1,6-million from other countries.

In past years fires and deadly stampedes have cast a cloud over the event.

US-made Sikorsky S-92 helicopters fitted with sophisticated technology such as night-vision binoculars are available to security forces for the first time amid the spectre of attacks that have haunted Saudi Arabia in recent years.

In case you were wondering if there was a how-to Hajj website... there is. For any NowPublic readers and contributors taking part, be careful and let us know how it goes.

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danesller0127

at 15:22 on December 6th, 2008

KSA/Dec 07: The holy rituals of Haj begin today in Makkah al-Mukarramah (Makkah), the holy city of Saudi Arabia known for its origin place of Muslim prophet Mohammad amid in the tight security“At least half millions of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia will join the gathering to perform their duty.”, officially said by the Arab government....Happy Eid!!!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:02 on December 6th, 2008

Thank you for this story, Jordan. It is good to know that "...the authorities have brought in sophisticated United States-built helicopters to guard against possible attack during the world's largest pilgrimage, which has often been blighted by tragedy."

Slsaaasa

at 03:44 on December 7th, 2008

These photos were taken during Hajj 2008 by my parents. The men dressed in the white cloths are wearing, and are in a state of ihram.

Men's garments consist of two white unhemmed sheets and are universal in appearance, because in the eyes of Allah, there is no difference between a prince and a pauper. The top is draped over the torso and the bottom cloth is wrapped around the waist. Women do not have to wear any specific clothing.

While in a state of ihram, there are also certain behaviors that are expected and forbidden. Muslims in ihram must not kill anything, become angry for any reason, wear purfume, cut their nails or hair and they must abstain from all sexual activity. Not everyone is wearing ihram in these photos because the Hajj has not started yet, it is from December 6th to December 11th this year. The people who are wearing it, are doing so because they are performing ummrah, a smaller pilgrimage, before Hajj begins.

To see more photos from my parents on their Hajj journey, see our Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/modernmuslimnomads/

And to read about their experience, check out our blog:
http://modernmuslimnomads.blogspot.com/

Slsaaasa has contributed a photo to this story.

Milieunet

at 04:36 on December 7th, 2008

Every year a big happening. Hopefully no deaths this year.

danesller0127

at 09:19 on December 7th, 2008

KSA/Dec.07 "Millions spend day in prayer... chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" (here i am answering your call O' God) the passage of pilgrims from the Grand Mosque to Mina, which began at dawn, was complited smoothly without any untoward incidents in the afternoon." Pilgrims stand in Arafat today...