FILE PIC
AMN / WEB DESK
Over two million people from across the world including India are performing Haj in Saudi Arabia today, after three years of limited pilgrimage due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Marking the beginning of five-day pilgrimage yesterday, Haj pilgrims spent the night at Mina. They are now converging at plains of Arafat for the main ritual of Haj -reciting prayers.
They will spend the day there praying and asking for God’s forgiveness. The pilgrims will listen the Khutba-e-Haj or Haj Sermon at Nimra mosque and offer midday and afternoon prayers together before leaving for Muzdalifah in the evening. The pilgrims will return to Mina tomorrow morning for ritual of animal sacrifice and symbolic stoning of devil. More than one lakh 75 thousand pilgrims from India are participating in this year’s pilgrimage.
Out of this, one lakh 40 thousand pilgrims have gone there through Haj Committee while nearly 35 thousand through private operators. This year, more than four thousand Indian women pilgrims are performing Haj without Mehram or male guardian.