Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Haj Pilgrimage Begins Tomorrow

(Mecca, Saudi Arabia) One of the five pillars of Islam, the annual Haj begins tomorrow and ends Monday. An estimated 2 million Muslim pilgrims from all over the world are expected to visit Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest places.

From KhaleejTimes.com:
The Haj will begin on Thursday, with the faithful assembling at Mina.

At dawn on Friday, they will begin moving towards Mount Arafat where they will spend the day praying and asking for God's forgiveness at the summit, in a symbolic waiting for the last judgment.

The pilgrims then return to Mina to sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep, for Eid Al Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, on Saturday.

They will spend another two days there for the stoning ceremony that symbolises a willingness to renounce evil.
The stonings have been problematic by causing stampedes. However, increased security and civil defense forces have been mobilized to prevent stampedes and enhance safety.

Last year, 364 people died in a stampede which occurred during a stone-throwing ritual. The year before, 251 people died in a stoning stampede. For medical emergencies, 21 field hospitals have been set up with 9,600 staffers.

I assume that many more than one sheep will need to be sacrificed for 2 million people. Otherwise, it would be slim pickings at the barbecue.

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