The largest hajj since the start of the coronavirus pandemic began Wednesday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslim pilgrims flocked to the Grand Mosque to circle the Kaaba, the imposing black cube. All pilgrims in Islam’s holiest city must be vaccinated and follow strict hygiene rules.
A total of one million pilgrims are expected in Mecca this year, including 850,000 believers from abroad. Authorities had imposed a mask requirement, but this has so far been largely disregarded. Three years ago – so before the Corona crisis – about 2.5 million people took part in the pilgrimage, which every healthy Muslim must undertake at least once in his life.
130,000 liters of disinfectant
Authorities say the Grand Mosque is “cleaned 10 times a day” by “more than 4,000 male and female workers” during the Hajj. More than 130,000 liters of disinfectant must be used at a time.
Since the start of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 795,000 cases of coronavirus, 9,000 of which are fatal, out of a population of about 34 million.
Heat affects pilgrims
In addition to the orbit of the Kaaba, the Hajj includes the meeting on Mount Arafat and the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina. Temperatures in Saudi Arabia are currently rising to 42 degrees. To protect themselves from the heat, many pilgrims held up umbrellas at the start of the pilgrimage.
The Hajj is a prestigious event for the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is currently celebrating his return to the diplomatic arena.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
