Stoning ritual during Hajj runs smooth; pilgrims praise Hajj arrangements
text_fields
MINA: Pilgrims for Hajj 2022 continued their second day of the "stoning of the devil" ritual at Mina's massive Jamarat complex on Sunday, where each of them threw 21 stones at the three pillars which symbolises Satan.
Jamarat is a five-level complex that has been designed to make sure that a huge number of pilgrims were able to complete the rituals swiftly and at the earliest.
There are several pathways that have been laid down to ensure the flow of pilgrims remains steady. The pathways are designed to prevent congestion and delays by facilitating movement only in one direction.
After the ritual, pilgrims spent time in their tents praying and supplicating. Although most of them will leave Mina after they have completed the rituals on Monday.
Necessary arrangements and preparation were made to make sure that more than 300,000 pilgrims could be accommodated per hour. A fleet of 226 eco-friendly electric vehicles was also put to use in the Jamarat Bridge to assist the pilgrims, according to the Arab News.
"Everything was easy, from organizing the crowd for the stoning in Jamarat, to the tawaf (walking around the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah)," said Nussaiba, a Palestinian pilgrim who only gave her first name.
The Hajj activities at the holy places are under the supervision of Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al Faisal and Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif. Several agencies including security authorities and health workers are involved in providing all necessary services to the pilgrims.
State-of-the-art technology is used to monitor the movement of pilgrims and ensure their safety and security. Information gathered via on-ground cameras and helicopters is linked to operations centres where it is analyzed in real-time to ensure quick and efficient solving of any problems or emergencies.
The Ministry of Health informed that there was no infection or disease outbreak during the Hajj. As part of the country's Vision 2030 plan, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has implemented a comprehensive health insurance scheme for foreign pilgrims.