As the pilgrims began making their way from Mecca to Medina on Tuesday (22 September), Sami Al-Shwairekh, chief of media and information for the Public Security Agency, said that 12,850 people had been caught violating hajj regulations.
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More than 1.37 million people arrived in Saudi Arabia over the weekend of 19 September, with two million expected to make the Hajj pilgrimage in honour of Eid al-Adha.
The meeting discussed issues pertaining to arrival of Haj flights, reception, arrival timing, transfer of luggage including holy water “Zum Zum”, deployment of volunteers, vehicle passes to attendants and transportation arrangements for pilgrims from Jammu and Ladakh, the spokesperson said.
2001: A stampede at Mina during the final day of the pilgrimage ceremonies kills 35 hajj pilgrims.
From there they visit Mina before proceeding on to Mount Arafat.
Men dressed in simple white terry cloth garments and women in modest attire and unadorned by makeup wept in joy after making it to the site before dawn.
The valley of Mina is all prepared to welcome the Guests of Allah who will start streaming into the tent city from tomorrow (Dhul Hijjah 8) in preparation for the Day of Arafat which falls on Wednesday.
Hoda Darahim of Egypt said her 35-year-old daughter died this year.
The 80-year-old pilgrim from Bareilly, Masit Khan, who is now lodged in a jail in Saudi Arabia since the past one month after heroin was recovered from his baggage, has been allowed by the Saudi authorities to perform Haj.
Islam requires all able-bodied Muslims to perform the hajj at least once.
Many try to catch some sleep – after a tiring journey from Makkah that on average takes five hours – as they ready for the climax of their ultimate spiritual experience.
The Saudi authorities deploy 100,000 police and vast numbers of stewards to ensure safety and help those who lose their way.
This year’s hajj begins against a backdrop of increased jihadist violence, a surge of the deadly MERS virus and with Saudi Arabia at war in Yemen.
The pilgrims stay in Arafat until sunset, when they come down to Muzdalifah to spend the night under open skies and also to collect pea-sized pebbles.
The capital Riyadh saw a jump in infections last month.
Here they believe Mohammed gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on hajj.
The Saudi health ministry has mobilized 25,000 additional healthcare workers.
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While saying that 10 persons were caught transporting illegal pilgrims and were together fined SR240, 000 (N13m), he said each one of them would serve 35 days imprisonment, and that the three cars being used were confiscated.
