SAUDI ARABIA: Pilgrims flocking to Mina to perform rituals involved in the annual Haj, visit late-night markets to buy gifts and souvenirs of their pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site

Record ID: 188848

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Pilgrims flocking to Mina to perform rituals involved in the annual Haj, visit late-night markets to buy gifts and souvenirs of their pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site
  • Date: 8th November 2011
  • Summary: SMALL GIRL HOLDING TOY
  • Embargoed: 23rd November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAE1UX0LQGCPPCLDXVV4ROWW4JW
  • Story Text: The city of Mina is bustling with pilgrims travelling from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as part of their Haj pilgrimage ritual.
    Millions of Muslims have made their way into the city to perform the last rite of their pilgrimage - stoning the symbolic Satan.
    "This is one of the miracles of God to gather millions of people in this narrow place, this is a miracle from God in this place," said Saudi pilgrim Fahad al Harbi, as he looked at a collection of toys on display.
    Many pilgrims take the opportunity to scour the local markets, which remain in operation late into the night, looking for gifts and souvenirs for loved ones.
    Although revenues from pilgrims are small compared to the massive wealth of Saudi Arabia because of its oil and gas resources, merchants selling goods on the street reap the benefit of the sudden influx of religious tourists.
    "Those who buy it (perfumes) take it as gifts, pilgrims take it home as gifts from Haj," said perfume seller, Jamal.
    Local gold jewellery tradesman do well during peak Haj season.
    In many Arab and Muslim countries, pilgrims are expected to bring back costly gold gifts for friends and family members. Many pilgrims are under pressure to splurge on gold items to take back home.
    Jewellery shops line the shopping malls, selling gold bangles, necklaces and earrings.
    Despite the high gold prices, traders say people are still snapping up jewellery made from the precious metal.
    Banor who has made the journey to Saudi Arabia from Malaysia said she was happy to see Muslims come together.
    "I feel happy, happy to see so many people - Muslims in the world come to Mecca to do Haj."
    Another pilgrim, Mohammad Monther Iqbal from Bangladesh, said he prayed for regional peace.
    "I pray to Allah to the Muslim brotherhood that everywhere we get peace, because we have got a lot of unrest in every part of the Muslim world, so I prayed to Allah that everybody lives in peace," he said.
    More than six million pilgrims enter Mecca throughout the year. Among the rites they must perform during the three-day pilgrimage, pilgrims must walk seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building at the centre of the Grand Mosque, pray at nearby Mount Arafat, and ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles at three walls in Mina.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
Register