SAUDI ARABIA-HAJ PILGRIMS Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to Mecca for haj

Record ID: 189529

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA-HAJ PILGRIMS Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to Mecca for haj
  • Date: 30th September 2014
  • Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING TOWARDS HOLY MOSQUE / CALL FOR PRAYER AUDIO IN BACKGROUND STREET SIGN WHICH READS (Arabic and English) 'HOLY MOSQUE - AJYAD STREET' VARIOUS OF CLOCK TOWER VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO HOLY MOSQUE VARIOUS OF MINARET OF HOLY MOSQUE
  • Embargoed: 15th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAQDFW96E81ENA8OE4JVUSGU70
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims thronged the holy city of Mecca for the annual haj pilgrimage which is expected to draw some three million Muslim visitors, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world.
    In the searing heat, the Holy Mosque in Mecca saw on Sunday (September 28) a large number of pilgrims arrive for the annual religious journey, which is viewed as one of the Muslim faith's greatest acts of worship.
    It's estimated that almost two million people have so far arrived at the site in Saudi Arabia for the haj.
    With temperatures hitting 36 celsius (96.8F), many congregated in the cooler shadow of the building's minarets and said they are pleased to have finally made the journey.
    "Thank God, we have been chosen by God from millions to visit the Kaaba. May God make it easy for us," said Algerian pilgrim, Abu Al A'as.
    Other pilgrims spoke of the challenges of the journey.
    "There are some difficulties in the haj pilgrimage but with God's will, it passes smoothly. Anything becomes easy when we reach this holy place," said Egyptian pilgrim Abdullah Ibrahim.
    "The pilgrimage cost me 50.000 Egyptian Pounds ($6,990.55 USD), and it took me five years to save this money," added Ibrahim.
    Haj occurs in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, called Dhul-Hijjah.
    During haj, pilgrims march to nearby Mena where they spend the night before ascending to Mount Arafat for the climax of the pilgrimage.
    Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can afford the trip must perform the haj at least once in a lifetime.
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