Pilgrims arrive at Mina as annual Hajj rituals begin
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, including Pakistanis, have started arriving at Mina, marking the beginning of annual Hajj rituals in the Saudi holy city of Makkah.
Nearly 89,000 Pakistanis have traveled to Saudi Arabia under the government's Hajj scheme and over 23,620 Pakistanis are performing Hajj through private tour operators.
Pakistan's Hajj Mission has completed all arrangements for the transportation of pilgrims to the world's largest tent valley at Mina, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
'Over 88,000 pilgrims under government Hajj scheme will reach Mina via 932 buses before Zuhr prayer tomorrow,' the broadcaster said on Tuesday.
'Pilgrims will remain at Mina until Fajr next morning (Thursday), the 9th Dhul Hijjah. Then, the Hujjaj will proceed to the valley of Arafat to perform 'Waqoof-e-Arafa,' the main ritual of Hajj and offer Zuhr and Asr prayers there.'
The Pakistan Hajj Mission has urged the pilgrims to follow their scheduled departure time to avoid the risk of overcrowding amid hot weather conditions, according to the report.
The mission earlier advised Pakistani pilgrims to follow the directives issued by Saudi Arabia concerning the stoning of the devil or 'Rami Al-Jamarat' and animal sacrifice rituals during the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Each 'Maktab' will have designated timings for the act of stoning the devil on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, Radio Pakistan reported.
'Every 'Nazim' [administrator] is bound to ensure that the intending pilgrims perform this ritual as per their allocated time slot,' it said, citing the Pakistani Hajj Mission.
'Therefore, all pilgrims are advised to proceed in groups under the supervision of their 'Nazim' as per schedule.'
The state broadcaster also reported that the Saudi authorities have set the time for sacrificing animals for Pakistani pilgrims on the night between the 10th and 11th of Dhul Hijjah at 12:30am.
'Hence, all pilgrims are urged to complete the 'Rami' of the first day before midnight,' the Pakistani mission said.
The annual pilgrimage will conclude on Monday, June 9.
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