Hajj 2011: Pilgrims arriving Mina today

MAKKAH: Around 2.5 million Muslims are arriving today in Mina for the Hajj rites that begin Friday, leaving Saudi authorities with a daunting security and safety challenge.

The main hajj rites start on the 8th of Zil Hajj, the 12th month on the Islamic lunar calendar and whose name means the month of hajj. Pilgrims camp in Mina, around five kilometres east of Khana Kaaba. The day is known as Tarwiah (watering) Day, as pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometres southeast of Mina.
Saudi authorities have mobilised some 100,000 security and civil defence personnel to insure a smooth pilgrimage and avoid deadly incidents.
“We will mobilise all our means to prevent any harm against any pilgrim or any group of pilgrims,” Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, who recently became the crown prince of the Muslim kingdom said on Tuesday.
He made the remark during an inspection tour of hajj preparations as anti-riot and anti-terrorism police paraded in front of the kingdom’s internal security czar as police and rescue helicopters hovered overhead.
The hajj rituals will begin from Friday and peak on Saturday when all pilgrims assemble in the Arafat plain outside Mecca, and end with Eid-ul-Azha, which will be celebrated on Sunday.
Around 1.7 million Muslims are due to descent on Makkah from around the world while between 700,000 and 800,000 pilgrims will be coming from inside Saudi Arabia.