Saudi Gazette report

MINA — Most of the pilgrims started leaving the tent city of Mina on Tuesday afternoon, the second day of Tashreeq, after performing the ritual of casting stones at three Jamarat, pillars symbolizing Satan.

Chanting “Allahu Akbar'' (God is the greatest), pilgrims hurled stones first at Jamarat Al-Sugra (small pillar), then at Jamarat Al-Wusta (medium pillar) and lastly at Jamarat Al-Aqaba (largest pillar), seven times each. They prayed after stoning the first two pillars and quit quickly after stoning at the third Jamarat, following the tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Pilgrims in a hurry then swiftly proceeded to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida (Farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), the last obligatory ritual of Hajj. The Grand Mosque received several batches of pilgrims, who arrived from Mina to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida, before heading to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah or to their home. The pilgrims were seen in a spiritually elevated and euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey.

The pilgrims, who are in a rush, are allowed to leave Mina for Makkah before sunset on the second tashriq day or else they will have to stay an extra day in Mina and have to pebble the devil. The majority of the pilgrims set to vacate Mina before sunset on Tuesday. The pilgrims who will stay back in Mina on Tuesday night will leave the tent city after completing the stoning ritual on Wednesday afternoon.

The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the departure of pilgrims from Mina as per a two-day schedule prepared by them so as to avoid any congestion at the Jamarat Bridge as well as to ensure their smooth movement to the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida. Pilgrims started the stoning ritual this afternoon in an orderly and peaceful way. They performed the stoning ritual emulating Prophet Ibrahim’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where he is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son, Ismail. The ritual is the renunciation of evil in all its forms and a promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan, the cursed. The pilgrims moved easily and comfortably from one pillar to the next as they hurled pebbles at the pillars. Multiple lanes were allocated for the smooth movement of pilgrims to the multi-level Jamarat Bridge complex.

Pilgrims proceeded from their camps in Mina to the Jamarat Complex on their scheduled time on Tuesday afternoon. They reached the Jamarat on board Mashaer Train and buses while pilgrims staying in tents located near the Jamarat walked on foot to the facility. After completing the stoning ritual, pilgrims returned to their accommodation in Mina camps, packed their baggage and boarded buses that took them to Makkah to perform Farewell Tawaf. Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Wednesday, the third day of Tashreeq, pilgrims are allowed to leave a day earlier.

The stoning ritual has taken place under the soaring summer heat, which at 2 p.m. reached 48 degrees Celsius in Makkah and the Holy Sites, according to the Saudi National Center for Metrology. “Of course, it is something very hard and tiring. The temperature is abnormal compared to the past years and this affects us a lot,” said Ahmed Al-Baradie, an Egyptian pilgrim, after performing the stoning ritual. More than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress on Sunday alone at the start of the first round of stoning, according to the Health Ministry.

Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel urged on Monday pilgrims to avoid peak sun hours from 11 am to 4 pm when performing the remaining stoning rituals. He advised them to avoid direct sun exposure and stay away from hot surfaces, stressing that prevention is the key. The Ministry of Health reported that 2,764 cases of heat stress were treated on the first day of Eid. Security forces, medics and first responders have been deployed in and around Mina, especially on roads and open areas to direct and help pilgrims. They treated many people for sunburns on their feet.

The Saudi authorities ensured smooth movement throughout the day, facilitating pilgrims’ access to the Jamarat Bridge for stoning, then for returning to their Mina tents and heading to Makkah if they are in a hurry for the Farewell Tawaf. The Transport General Authority (TGA), in collaboration with relevant authorities, has allocated 11 shuttle bus routes for transporting pilgrims between Mina and the Grand Mosque during the days of Tashreeq of the current Hajj season. The TGA has provided 2,460 buses for pilgrim transport, aiming to facilitate their movement and ensure the completion of their rituals with ease, tranquility, and peace. This initiative will also enhance access to transportation, improve the quality of service, ensure operational efficiency, and improve the overall experience of the pilgrims.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, in collaboration with other entities involved in Hajj affairs, has planned facilitating a smooth Farewell Tawaf by efficiently organizing the flow of pilgrims, according to this year’s Hajj season protocols. A comfortable climate is maintained by a network of 883 air conditioning units, supplemented by 4,323 ventilation and misting fans. A dedicated team of 2,800 volunteers are readily available to assist pilgrims and give directions in 50 languages. Over 200 large electric carts are readily available to serve pilgrims, and 10,000 wheelchairs for people who need them.

Easy navigation is facilitated by 194 designated doors, 519 stairs, and 194 elevators throughout the Grand Mosque. A total of 33,000 prayer rugs and 340 prayer halls are designated for pilgrims. The Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has activated the “Walyattawafu” initiative during the third phase of the Farewell Tawaf. The initiative aims to streamline the tawaf process through deploying guides and volunteers wishing to serve pilgrims to guide them during the Farewell Tawaf.

More than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj this year, slightly less than last year’s 1.84 million, according to data released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistis (GASTAT).