Thousands of Indians were among nearly three million Muslims who arrived at the holy Saudi city of Mina on Wednesday amid tight security for the symbolic stoning of the devil as part of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Around 1.5 lakh Indians were among the nearly three million pilgrims taking part in the stoning ritual in Saudi Arabia which will continue on Thursday and Friday.
Indian Consul General Ausaf Sayeed said that the Indian pilgrims have started taking part in the holy ritual.
“So far, everything has passed off peacefully and no untoward incident has been reported,” he said. The Indian pilgrims are expected to finish the ritual by Wednesday evening and move to Mecca, he observed.
Indian Haj Mission has set up its camp office in Mina to provide necessary facilities to the pilgrims, including a dispensary to provide treatment.
“The Saudi authorities have made elaborate preparations to ensure an incident-free Haj.
The Jamarat Bridge has been raised by another level and the pilgrims of all countries, including those from India, would be taken for Rami (stone-throwing ritual) at designated times,” the Indian official said.
Leader of the Indian Haj delegation A R Antulay, Minister for Minority Welfare, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M O H Farook and Chairman of Haj Committee Iqbal Ahmad Saradgi have already reached Mina.
Rush of pilgrims
The rush of pilgrims to the site in the past has led to hundreds of deaths, including 345 during the ritual in January last year. In a similar tragedy, 251 people were trampled to death in 2004.
After the symbolic stoning ritual on Wednesday, pilgrims will celebrate Eid al-Adha, the day of sacrifice, when animals are sacrificed in memory of Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son to God.
