Latest news with #pilgrimage
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Selected roads in Bukit Mertajam to close this weekend for St Anne's Feast
The St Anne's Feast, observed annually on July 26, attracts thousands of pilgrims from across the country and abroad. (St Anne's Church pic) BUKIT MERTAJAM : Several roads near the minor basilica of St Anne's will be closed from 9am on Saturday to 2pm on Sunday for the annual St Anne's Feast, one of Malaysia's largest religious celebrations. Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Helmi Aris said in a statement today that over 100,000 visitors are expected, with the closures aimed at ensuring smooth traffic flow during the event. The affected stretch is Jalan Kulim, from the Caltex petrol station to the Taman Bukit Indah traffic lights. Motorists from Kulim heading to Bukit Mertajam can detour via Jalan Rozhan or Jalan Sepakat, continuing to Jalan Muhibbah, Jalan Kampung Baru and exiting through Taman B. Those travelling from Bukit Mertajam to Kulim may use Jalan Kampung Baru towards Jalan Berjaya, then onto Jalan Song Ban Kheng, Jalan Kampung Baru, heading towards Alma and Bukit Minyak. Alternatively, Jalan Kampung Batu through Taman B can be used to reconnect to Jalan Kulim. A candlelight procession on Saturday evening (7pm-11pm), will also see closures along Jalan Kampung Baru and Jalan Berjaya. All roads are expected to reopen by 2pm on Sunday. The public is advised to follow traffic police instructions and use alternative routes. The St Anne's Feast, observed annually on July 26, attracts pilgrims from across the country and abroad. The church was elevated to a minor basilica status in 2019, highlighting its global Catholic significance.
Gulf Business
a day ago
- Gulf Business
Planning Umrah 2025? Here's what Saudi authorities want you to know
Image credit: Getty Images As the Umrah season for 1447 AH begins, Saudi authorities have rolled out a series of initiatives designed to enhance the pilgrimage experience in Makkah and Madinah. Combining digital innovation, improved safety measures, and infrastructure upgrades, these efforts reflect the country's dedication to providing pilgrims with a safe, comfortable, and spiritually enriching journey. Introducing the 'Rushd' App In Madinah, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs launched a campaign to raise awareness about the 'Rushd' app, coinciding with the start of Umrah. Read- This app offers pilgrims multiple digital services including an electronic Quran, prayer times based on Umm Al-Qura, Qibla direction, and a multilingual 3D virtual reality guide for Hajj and Umrah education. It also features an Islamic e-library and access to the S The campaign is active in key locations around Madinah, including historic mosques and areas near the Prophet's Mosque, helping visitors make full use of the app to enhance their spiritual journey, Smart bracelets enhance visitor safety Meanwhile, the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque introduced smart safety bracelets aimed at vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and visually impaired visitors. These bracelets store emergency contact information, enabling quick assistance if needed and providing reassurance during worship. This Infrastructure and services expand in Madinah The With 89 initiatives underway across 23 government entities, covering areas like security, transport, healthcare, tourism, and emergency response, the program is showing strong progress, with a 95% completion rate on its projects. Tourism ministry closes non-compliant facilities To maintain high standards, the Ministry of Tourism carried out inspections in Makkah, The ministry's ongoing campaign, 'Our Guests Come First,' encourages visitors to provide feedback via the Unified Tourism Center (930), helping improve service quality and visitor satisfaction. Service centers support pilgrims in Madinah In Madinah, two service centers within the Prophet's Mosque courtyards served nearly 188,000 visitors in 2024. These efforts are part of the General Authority's broader mission to enhance environmental and human aspects of service within the mosque. Through a combination of digital innovation, safety enhancements, regulatory enforcement, and improved infrastructure, Saudi Arabia continues to elevate the experience of pilgrims during Umrah. These initiatives demonstrate the Kingdom's commitment to serving millions of worshippers with care, efficiency, and hospitality in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan PM orders special flight arrangements for pilgrims' travel to Iran, Iraq
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked authorities to make special flight arrangements to facilitate Pakistani pilgrims' travel to Iran and Iraq, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday. The development came hours after Pakistan suspended road travel to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year, citing public safety and national security concerns. Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Iran and Iraq annually to visit religious sites, including observing Arbaeen (Arabic for 'forty'), a significant religious occasion in Shia Islam that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain, who was 'martyred' in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. On Sunday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with PM Sharif and briefed him regarding the new policy for Pakistani Shia pilgrims' travel to Iran and Iraq, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported. 'The prime minister directed the Minister for Aviation to arrange special flights for the zaireen (pilgrims),' the report read. Pakistanis traveling to Iran and Iraq via road have often been targeted in sectarian attacks by armed groups in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, which shares border with Iran. Islamabad's decision to restrict road travel came in the wake of a rise in militant attacks in the province by ethnic Baloch militant groups who demand a greater share of the province's mineral resources from Islamabad. 'After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,' Naqvi wrote on X. The Pakistani government is also introducing a new, centralized system for organizing pilgrimages to holy sites in Iran and Iraq that would require interested parties to register as tour operators, the Pakistani religious affairs minister announced this month. The statement followed an announcement by Naqvi that Pakistani pilgrims would not be able to individually travel for religious pilgrimages from Jan. 1 next year. The decision was made after Iran, Iraq and Syria raised concerns with Islamabad about some of these Pakistani pilgrims overstaying their visas or working illegally in the host countries. Pakistan previously had no formal structure for people to travel to Iran and Iraq for religious purposes. Although a system was approved in 2021 to organize these pilgrimages, but little progress was made on its implementation.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Camera phones more prominent than rosary beads as thousands climb Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday
Camera phones were more prominent than rosary beads on Sunday during the annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick . But Co Mayo 's holy mountain continues to hold an allure to pilgrims, albeit diminished in comparison to Reek Sunday's past. The numbers who made the climb to the mist-shrouded summit from dawn were noticeably smaller due to factors including the much-anticipated All-Ireland Senior Football final between Donegal and Kerry taking place later in the day. Donegal people, in particular, are devotees of the annual pilgrimage, otherwise known as Garland Sunday, but many of the regulars seemingly opted to put secular matters before religious considerations this time around. [ As a teacher in my 20s, I am excited to be part of the revival of Christian faith Opens in new window ] Those who did come, wrapped in their green and yellow county colours, included Michael and Claire Burke. 'We stayed overnight and were on the way up early,' said Michael, as the couple moved to their car post descent seeking a swift getaway. 'All going well we'll be back in Ballybofey in good time to watch the game on television.' Did they say a prayer that Donegal would win? 'Of course,' Clare smiled, 'anything that would help us beat Kerry'. Unofficial estimates of the numbers who made the climb varied at between 5,000 and 7,000, a far cry from the halcyon days of the 1,600-year-old pilgrimage when attendance of 30,000 plus were common. 'There were many times back in the '60s and '70s when there would more than 30,000 participating.' Photograph: Christophe Boisvieux/ Getty Images In advance of Reek Sunday, Fr John Kenny, administrator of Westport parish, conceded the numbers would be down. 'In the course of the year there are more people climbing than ever before. But on the day itself (Reek Sunday) the numbers have declined,' he said. After returning from what he reckoned was his 85th ascent of Croagh Patrick, Martin Corcoran from Islandeady lamented the fall-off in numbers. 'It's sad what's happening,' he said. 'There were many times back in the '60s and '70s when there would more than 30,000 participating, even though the climb was in darkness because the pilgrimage then was during night hours. 'Those were the days. Things have changed awfully'. The Order of Malta, Mayo Mountain Rescue and Civil Defence noted a fall-off in injuries, which was attributed to the relatively good weather and the path to the summit being much safer due to repairs and improvements. Due to a scarcity of priests, Masses in the summit chapel were celebrated every hour rather than half-hour, from 8am to 2pm. The late Pope Francis designated 2025 as a universal Jubilee Year of Hope and, for this year, Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg and Knock have been designated by the Irish Catholic bishops as national pilgrimage sites. Once all three pilgrimage sites are visited, a pilgrim is eligible for a commemorative medal. In a homily on the eve of the pilgrimage at St Mary's Church in Westport, Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam and Apostolic Administrator of Killala, said the theme of hope was well chosen by the late pope and is emerging clearly with Pope Leo XIV. 'Hope is a constant need – for individuals, for the church and for society,' he said.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan suspends road travel to Iran, Iraq citing security concerns
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday that the government will not allow pilgrims to travel to Iran and Iraq by road for the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year, citing public safety and national security concerns for the ban. Thousands of Pakistani citizens visit Iran and Iraq annually for religious tourism and to visit religious sites, including observing Arbaeen (Arabic for 'forty'), a significant religious occasion in Shia Islam. It marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain, who was 'martyred' in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Travelers to Iran and Iraq by road have often been targeted in sectarian attacks by armed groups in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province, which shares a border with Iran. Islamabad's decision comes in the wake of a rise in militant attacks in the province by ethnic Baloch militant groups, who demand a greater share of the province's mineral resources from Islamabad. 'After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,' Naqvi wrote on X. After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year. This difficult decision was taken in the interest of… — Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) July 27, 2025 The interior minister said this 'difficult decision' was taken in the interest of public safety and national security. However, he said Shia pilgrims will be allowed to travel by air to Iran and Iraq. 'Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days,' he wrote. A Pakistani immigration official told Arab News earlier this month that Islamabad plans to overhaul its pilgrimage travel policy to Iraq, Iran and Syria after authorities confirmed around 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims went missing or overstayed in the three countries over the past decade. Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf revealed this month that 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims had either overstayed or gone missing in these countries without any official record of their whereabouts. In response, Pakistani authorities have scrapped the long-standing 'Salar system,' in which private group leaders managed travel logistics, and are introducing a new centralized, computerized structure to track and regulate pilgrim movement more effectively. Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Pakistan's director general of Immigration and Passports, said a new Ziyarat Management Policy has been finalized by the government under which pilgrims will only be allowed to travel in organized groups, and licensed tour operators will be held directly responsible for ensuring that all group members return to Pakistan before their visas expire. Any operator found violating the policy or failing to ensure the return of all pilgrims will have their license canceled.
