Millions of hajj pilgrims go to Mina, Haram mosque

Mecca, NU Online
Millions of hajj pilgrims on Sunday were constantly moving from the Haram grand mosque in Mecca to Mina for hurling rocks to "jumroh" or stone walls, in the framework of the hajj pilgrimate rituals.

The hajj congregation moved in by foot towards the locations of worship, either in groups, families as well as on their own, Antara reported from Mecca.<>

Many of the pilgrims preferred walking from the Haram grand mosque to Mina (about six kilometers away) for one hour, faster going by vehicles in view the serious traffic jams.

The aging or sick hajj pilgrims, used wheel chairs or ride a motorcycle taxi paying 50 to 100 Saudi Rials (SR1 = Rp2.500) for the ritual performance.

Non-tariff vehicles charged higher fees than those in other days, namely SR30 for sitting passengers and SR20 for passengers willing to ride on the roof of the vehicles, whereas regular rates reached only SR5 for each individual.

The passengers using vehicles did not reach the location of Jamarat or the stone walls, because passengers should get out of their vehicles about one or two kilometers before arriving at the Jamarat.

Casting rocks to the stone walls representing the devil, is part of the important ritual of the hajj pilgrimage.

The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws about three million Muslims each year and the total of Indonesian hajj pilgrims this year is more than 200 thousand. (dar)