Millions of pilgrims thronged the two Holy Harams and offered Taraweeh prayers Monday night heralding the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. In both the cities, all roads leading to the Harams were crowded even before sunset. Long queues of cars could be seen just after Asr (afternoon prayers) and security personnel were kept busy in making arrangements to ease the traffic congestion. About a million people performed Taraweeh prayers in the Grand Mosque while the number of those offering Taraweeh at the Prophet's Mosque was estimated at 300,000. In Madina, about 400 security personnel were deployed in the range of the Central Zone to facilitate the flow of pedestrians heading for the mosque. Madina's Director General of Traffic, Colonel Siraj Abdul Rahman Kamal, said over 100 traffic policemen successfully implemented the traffic plans at King Fahd Road, King Abdul Aziz Road and As-Salam Road. The Presidency of the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque is also working at its maximum capacity these days, as 1,400 employees are serving the mosque's visitors. Over 1,000 cleaning workers are spread in the mosque to keep it neat and clean. About 120,000 sofras (tablecloths) of Iftar will be stretched along the Prophet's Mosque for worshippers to break their fast. Meanwhile, the Madina Charitable Society has started providing Ramadan supplies to more than 21,000 poor families. About 18,000 of these families live in the villages on outskirts of Madina and 3,000 live inside the Prophet's City. Sheikh Iyad Shokri, an official at the charity, said preparations are under way to distribute 750,000 Iftar meals inside the Prophet's Mosque, at the city's entries, and at several points on highways. Shokri said committees of the charity are monitoring the needs of poor families in Madina's provinces. It has finished constructing 64 houses for poor families – Okaz __
