Countdown to Haj
People perform Tawaf in the Grand Mosque during the annual Haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. More than two million pilgrims are are expected to perform Haj which starts on June 5. — Reuters
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More than a million pilgrims joined Islam's most important rite under a beating sun on Wednesday, as the Haj kicked off with the Saudi hosts scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. With temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius, robed pilgrims slowly circled the Kaaba — the black cube at the heart of Mecca's Grand Mosque which is Islam's holiest site. State media reported that others had begun arriving in the sprawling tent city of Mina on Mecca's outskirts where they will stay overnight before the Haj's high-point on Thursday — on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final sermon. About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam. Authorities have ratcheted up heat protection measures such as extra shade to avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died as temperatures hit 51.8C. On Wednesday, pilgrims performed the 'Tawaf' — walking seven times around the Kaaba. Before entering Mecca, pilgrims must first enter a state of purity, called 'Ihram', which requires special dress and behaviour. Men don a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers, regardless of their social status or nationality. Women, in turn, wear loose dresses, also white, exposing just their faces and hands. Pilgrims arriving on buses had begun already trickling into Mina on Tuesday afternoon, greeted by staff offering them coffee and dates. 'I am so happy, it's such an amazing feeling,' said Reem al Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi performing the pilgrimage for the first time. Artificial intelligence Following last year's lethal heatwave, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials to improve protection. Shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 square metres, thousands of additional medics will be on standby and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Hajj Minister Tawfiq al Rabiah said last week. Artificial intelligence technology will help process the deluge of data, including video from a new fleet of drones, to better manage the massive crowds. Authorities said most of the deaths last year were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. This year, they have cracked down on the unregistered, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Haj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the Haj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Large crowds at the Haj have proved hazardous in the past, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the 'stoning the devil' ritual in Mina killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest haj disaster. — AFP
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