Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 12:12am
Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage
Amid enhanced security, an estimated three million Muslims began leaving the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to begin the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Authorities say they implemented new safety measures to prevent stampedes that killed hundreds of people in previous years, like last January when 345 people died and some 300 injured in a stampede during one of the rituals, BBC Online reported Thursday.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is due to end on Monday. All Muslims are obligated to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able.
The massive convoy of pilgrims is making its way to the nearby tent city of Mina, the pilgrims' home over the next few days. They are following the route of the first Hajj performed by the Prophet Mohammed.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reporting from among the throng said the day was emotional, with many in tears. Saudi authorities imposed a strict quota system to keep the number of foreign visitors to a manageable level.
When the pilgrims return to Mecca, they must perform a precise series of steps - including walking seven times round the Kaaba (a cube-like building in the centre of the mosque) in an anti-clockwise direction. At the last Hajj 345 pilgrims died in a crush at the foot of the bridge of Jamarat, in Mina, where pilgrims hurl stones at three pillars representing the spot where the devil is said to have appeared to Abraham.
Since then a major rebuilding project has been undertaken and 50,000 security personnel have been mobilised to ease the bottleneck.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is due to end on Monday. All Muslims are obligated to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able.
The massive convoy of pilgrims is making its way to the nearby tent city of Mina, the pilgrims' home over the next few days. They are following the route of the first Hajj performed by the Prophet Mohammed.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reporting from among the throng said the day was emotional, with many in tears. Saudi authorities imposed a strict quota system to keep the number of foreign visitors to a manageable level.
When the pilgrims return to Mecca, they must perform a precise series of steps - including walking seven times round the Kaaba (a cube-like building in the centre of the mosque) in an anti-clockwise direction. At the last Hajj 345 pilgrims died in a crush at the foot of the bridge of Jamarat, in Mina, where pilgrims hurl stones at three pillars representing the spot where the devil is said to have appeared to Abraham.
Since then a major rebuilding project has been undertaken and 50,000 security personnel have been mobilised to ease the bottleneck.