Mina witnessed moderate rain on Monday evening bringing down the hot temperatures as pilgrims started gathering at the vast tent city that has 160,000 fire-proof tents to accommodate them.
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Most pilgrims embarked their life-time journey on board buses arranged by their respective tawafa organizations while some others preferred moving on foot.
Early yesterday some ihram-clad pilgrims could be seen wheeling suitcases out of their hotel in the Red Sea city of Jeddah to begin the journey to Mount Arafat about 140 kilometres away.
After the stoning, the pilgrims will perform the ritual of animal sacrifice to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Ismail, to God.
The prayers were attended by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region, and Chairman of Central Haj Committee.
Qarni said all pilgrims have now assembled in Makkah ready to travel to Mina where they will stay the night and proceed on Wednesday to Arafat for Standing representing the Haj climax.
The next day the pilgrims return to Mina and perform the symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing stones at the three pillars.
About 100,000 police have been deployed to secure the Haj, maintain safety of pilgrims, and manage traffic and crowds.
“We will officially close operations for this year at 6 p.m., on Dhul Hijjah 13”, Burhanordin said. Gen. Muhammad Al-Qarni, adviser to the Haj minister for operations and emergencies, who is also head of the pilgrims’ grouping unit, said the grouping of the Guests of God has been going on since their arrival in the Kingdom. About 1.5 lakh Indians are among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who have converged in the Kingdom for the five-day Haj.
The Saudi authorities have deployed 1,00,000 security personnel for ensuring the safety and well-being of pilgrims.
The minister noted that Saudi Arabia swiftly approved the entrance of Yemeni pilgrims into the country on Saturday at dawn, contradicting the Houthi’s claim to the media that the Kingdom had barred Yemeni pilgrims from entering.
Security forces have taken ‘measures to prevent terrorist groups from exploiting Haj season to carry out acts of sabotage, ‘ said interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki.
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But preparations for this year’s event were marred when a construction crane working on an expansion of the Grand Mosque collapsed during severe winds.
