MAKKAH: Over 150,000 pilgrims from all over the world have arrived in Makkah and Madina so far to perform Haj, according to reports and official estimates. It is expected that over three million pilgrims will perform the fifth pillar of Islam this year. The spiritual cities of Islam have never appeared so busy and so festive. The number of pilgrims arriving here from all over the world is increasing every day. Haj is due to begin on Nov. 14, coinciding with 8th Dhul Hijjah. B.S Mubarak, the Indian Haj Consul, told Saudi Gazette that by Oct. 21, more than 45,000 Indian pilgrims had arrived by air at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina. Over 160,000 Indian pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year. An official at the Consulate General of Pakistan told Saudi Gazette that over 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom to perform Haj. The remaining 120,000 are expected to arrive before the Haj begins, he said. On Monday, the first group of 350 Sri Lankan pilgrims arrived at Jeddah's airport. About 5,800 Sri Lankan Haj pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year. Streets around the Grand Mosque are crowded, shops are full, and restaurants and fast food centers are busy serving food to the guests of Allah. Pilgrims chanting “Labbaik Allah Humma Labbaik - “Here I am O Allah! Here I am” – perform their Umrah rituals in Makkah. “My life dreams have come true, I am grateful to Allah that he made it possible for me to be here in Makkah to perform Haj,” said Abubaker, an Indian pilgrim. “The expansion of the Grand Mosque is a great engineering wonder,” said Mushtaq, a Pakistani pilgrim who came with his family to perform Haj. The General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has made elaborate arrangements to enable pilgrims to perform Umrah and offer prayers. Additional Zamzam water tanks around the Mataf area and outside the mosque have been arranged to make holy water available to visitors. The expansion of the path between Safa and Marwa hillocks was completed last year. The capacity to accommodate pilgrims has increased fourfold. Additional lights have been placed in the outer courtyard of the Grand Mosque to illuminate the area. Hundreds of volunteers have been deployed to help control and guide pilgrims inside and outside the Haram. Hundreds of additional toilets in the Harathal Bab area have been constructed for the convenience of pilgrims coming from the Ummul Qura Road, Jarwal and Jabal Ka'ba area. The Makkah Municipality has been working to ensure that the city is kept clean with the deployment of over 20,000 workers. Thousands of garbage bins around the city are in place for the use of residents and pilgrims. Over 1,000 garbage trucks have been allocated to collect garbage around the clock. Officials from the Makkah municipalities are continuing to conduct raids on restaurants, fast food centers, and grocery shops to check on hygiene. The government has promised to severely punish and fine violators. Barber shops in the holy city are also being checked to ensure that they comply with health regulations.
