Makkah: Annual Haj Pilgrimage Concludes on Satisfactory Note
By P A Hameed
Daijiworld Media Network—Makkah (CN)
Makkah, Dec 4: The annual Haj pilgrimage came to an end with the Hajis’ Tawaf-ul-Wida (farewell circumambulation of Ka'aba) in Makkah this week. Once the rites of farewell are completed, then the pilgrims must leave Makkah without delay.
Now, most of the pilgrims are eager to return to their home countries while some are heading to Madinah to visit Masjid-un-Nabavi, the mosque of the Prophet Mohammed and the Prophet’s grave.
It has been reported that around 2.5 million pilgrims from all over the world performed Haj this year without any fatalities.
The official statements by Saudi authorities said that they were delighted at the conclusion of the pilgrimage without any untoward incidents being reported.
However, there were reports of a few natural deaths and illness being caused. In spite of the panic about the swine flu, many elderly pilgrims and children were seen performing Haj rituals.
Since the number of pilgrims from India this year was more than expected, lots were drawn to meet the quota which the government had set. The Karnataka Haj Committee under the state administration had followed this process.
Some complaints were heard about the action of the Haj Committee over the selection process in Karnataka including Mangalore and Udupi districts. Some, who had decided to come to Makkah for Haj could not do so due to the government quota being filled.
Daijiworld has come to know that those who came through the Karnataka Haj Committee had to face some Mutawaff-related hitches including water and cleanliness. Some of the pilgrims complained that they were not provided sufficient water, tea, and other basic things.
A lot of Mangalorean pilgrims were also included in the Haj Committee who got the opportunity to fly directly from Mangalore International Airport to Saudi Arabia's Jeddah King Abdul Aziz International Airport for the first time. Mangalorean pilgrims had to face few difficulties and hitches when compared to previous years because of this.
Daijiworld correspondent contacted some of the Mangalorean pilgrims, who expressed their happiness at being in Makkah and successfully completing their pilgrimage.
Haji Hamabba, PWD contractor, hailing from Kaup in Udupi district, who has performed Haj with his wife twice, was happy with his experience. Haji Basha from Kodi-Kundapura, who also performed Haj with his wife Saramma, expressed his satisfaction despite succumbing to severe illness and low blood pressure.
Haji M K Abdul Khader Bawa, Basrikatte, who is a septuagenarian completed the pilgrimage with his wife Ashimath Bawa and his sister Mariyamma Ahmed Bawa without any problem.
All the concentrated efforts and services were performed by the Saudi authorities, recognized NGOs, social organizations, Saudi Youth Scouts, and Indian Fraternity Forum (IFF) including Mangaloreans, and were appreciated and recognized by almost all the pilgrims.
IFF had got itself fully involved in the services-related programmes for more than two weeks. There were some missing cases of pilgrims during the stoning ritual at Jamrath. IFF tried to trace them out and provide them food.
HRH Prince Khaled Bin Faisal, the Governor of Makkah, and others had monitored the whole situation closely and watchfully.
The cleanup process is on in Arafath, Muzdalifah, Mina, and Jamrath, and is being undertaken by the local municipality and civil defense departments. They will take a couple of days to return to normalcy.