Nov 26, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Makkah: Millions of pilgrims spent the first day of this year's Haj - Yaum Al-Tarwiyah in prayers in Mina on Wednesday as rains soaked the faithful and flooded roads snarling traffic.
Security forces and other government agencies were striving to clear the mess caused by the rains and guarantee a safe and peaceful stay for the pilgrims in Mina.
The pilgrims will converge today on Mount Arafat marking the climax of this year's Haj.
Pilgrims in white robes holding umbrellas circled the black cube-shaped Holy Kaaba in Makkah, the opening rite for the hajj.
Makkah and the nearby Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah often see heavy rains during the winter months, and Wednesday's were not unusually strong for the season. But they were the heaviest in years to coincide with the four-day hajj, and they could exacerbate its perennial dangers.
The day started ominously as dark clouds gathered over the mountainous landscape surrounding the holy sites. However, this did not deter the pilgrims as they made their way to their white tents in Mina.
In a tunnel leading to Mina and the Jamrat Bridge, 29-year-old security guard Mohammed Rashed said he was confident that all necessary resources were in place to tackle natural disasters such as heavy storms.
Pilgrims attending the hajj shelter from heavy rains in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. The heaviest rainstorms to hit annual hajj in years soaked pilgrims and flooded the road into Mecca, snarling traffic as millions of Muslims headed for the holy sites and added an extra hazard on top of intense concerns about the spread of swine flu.
(Photo: AP)
"There is no problem. We will have more security forces and Civil Defense personnel to help us just in case," he said as it started drizzling.
Other places were more badly hit. Unable to start, vehicles were left half-submerged in the Bahra and Muzha areas as well as the Jawasat checkpoint that leads into Makkah. Key routes between Makkah and Mina were closed down.
When it became apparent that emergency services and Civil Defense forces were unable to cope with the situation, stranded pilgrims began wading through the water and across busy highways as they began to make their way to the holy city.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said in a press statement in Mina that all pilgrims arrived in Mina and spent the day safely despite the heavy rains in Makkah and holy sites.
"There are a number of projects of canals and dams to guarantee the safety of pilgrims from rains and floods in Arafat and Mina," Prince Khaled said.
The rites - a lifetime dream for Muslims, who come to cleanse their sins - are always a logistical nightmare, as a population the size of a small city moves between Makkah and holy sites in the nearby desert over the course of four days. However, the unprecedented arrangements by the Saudi government makes everything smooth for millions of Hajis who come from all across the globe.
This year has brought the added worry that the massing of more than 3 million people from around the world could bring a Swine Flu outbreak. Expectations were rife that due to the fear of Swine Flu and H1N1 virus number of Hajjis this year will decline. However, nothing as such happened as more than three millions thronged the holy city of Makkah for the Hajj rituals that began yesterday.
The Hajis refused to let the wet weather dampen their spirits and despite heavy rains they are heading towards Mount Arafat - the most important ritual of Hajj chanting Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk.
"Today's rain caused us trouble but still it was a good omen. The Haj started with Allah showering his blessings on us," said pilgrim Sharique Arfin Shamsi.
