Hajj pilgrims offer Eid prayers at Makkah
Hajj pilgrims offer Eid prayers at Makkah
Hajj pilgrims offer Eid prayers at Makkah
Hajj pilgrims offer Eid prayers at Makkah

Hajj 2023: 'Overjoyed' pilgrims praise developments at holy sites


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Read the latest updates on the Hajj pilgrimage here

Pilgrims celebrated on the third day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage that began on Monday.

An enormous number of pilgrims traversed the holy sites in the last few days and have now completed most of their Hajj rituals.

"We are very lucky to be here, we feel like the chosen ones," said Saima Khan, from the UAE.

"It is hard and exhausting, but rewarding in the end. Today we just celebrated Eid with the women in our tent, and we are just resting it out," she added.

"We wished each other Eid Mubarak, wore new clothes in light colours – we are all wearing pastels, colours of the summer."

Last year, Saudi authorities allowed one million pilgrims to participate in Hajj. This year, the number exceeded 1.8 million.

Group of local pilgrims from Jeddah at Jamarat. Photo: Dr Hadir first on the left (she’s from Egypt resident of jeddah)
Group of local pilgrims from Jeddah at Jamarat. Photo: Dr Hadir first on the left (she’s from Egypt resident of jeddah)

"We did our official sacrifice early this morning. We are just happy to have accomplished our rites and to be resting in our air-conditioned tents," Ms Khan said.

Pilgrims who had performed Hajj before have said they are "very impressed" with the positive development of Hajj and the kingdom's security services and volunteers.

"When I compare today's Hajj, it is very different. We didn't have air conditioners, coolers or such tents before," India's former Hajj Committee chairman Salamat Ullah said.

"There are so many trees now! The health measures and staff are so good, the guards and police forces are commendable," he added.

"I am doing Hajj (again) after 15 years, there is a huge difference in the way Hajj authorities have developed the sites", Egyptian pilgrim Nada Youssef said.

"Most of all I am impressed by the security services here who are managing the large numbers.

"The soldiers were very helpful and very kind. They sprayed us with water all the time wearing a smile on their face," she added.

"Every group had its own time to use the train to be transported from one place to the other, which was a blessing," Dr Hadir Eldessouky, an Egyptian pilgrim who lives in Jeddah, said.

'Exhausted but overjoyed'

Pilgrims made their way from Muzdalifah to Jamarat in the early hours of Wednesday to complete the 'stoning of the devil' ritual.

"Jamarat was very well organized and smoothly going," Dr Eldessouky said.

"Though we lacked water a bit and we walked a long way, there were cold water tanks in the alley."

Jamarat is a three-pillar structure that symbolises the devil.

Saudi authorities have created an easier path to reach the structure in order to avoid overcrowding, stampeding and pilgrims getting hurt in the process.

"We collected a handful of pebbles and brought them with us to Jamarat, and once we finished stoning the devil we retired to our rooms," Aisha, a Pakistani pilgrim, said.

"We had mixed emotions, we were exhausted from the long journey but overjoyed that we had been able to complete the rituals of Hajj", she added, remarking that the ritual had been well organised.

  • Children in Eid clothes in Madinah. All Photos: SPA
    Children in Eid clothes in Madinah. All Photos: SPA
  • As is customary for Eid many children had new clothes
    As is customary for Eid many children had new clothes
  • Children in Eid clothes in Madinah. New clothes symbolise a freshness and a new beginning
    Children in Eid clothes in Madinah. New clothes symbolise a freshness and a new beginning
  • Eid Al Adha marks Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to obey Allah's command to slaughter his son
    Eid Al Adha marks Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to obey Allah's command to slaughter his son
  • Children in Eid clothes in Madinah, Saudi Arabia
    Children in Eid clothes in Madinah, Saudi Arabia
  • Many children have new clothes to celebrate Eid Al Adha
    Many children have new clothes to celebrate Eid Al Adha
  • New Eid clothes are a common way for children to celebrate Eid Al Adha
    New Eid clothes are a common way for children to celebrate Eid Al Adha
  • Children in Eid clothes in Madinah
    Children in Eid clothes in Madinah

"We just went to the first floor, did the stoning and moved on to make way for the next group of pilgrims," she said.

"There were wheelchairs and volunteers who took one sick lady all the way from the entrance to the finish."

Pilgrims will get a chance to rest in Mina on Wednesday after the stoning ritual.

"We are in Mina; our experience has been great in regards of our communication with guides and administrators, and we are given timely updates and procedures", said Nuvera, a Pakistani pilgrim, part of a group that brings UK- and US-based Pakistanis to Hajj every year.

Hajj pilgrims will need to perform one last circumambulation around the Kaaba, the Tawaf Al Ifadah, before they return to their home countries.

However, many pilgrims will choose to continue their journey after their pilgrimage and stay in Madinah, the site of the Prophet Mohammed's tomb.

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

65
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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat

TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel

Leaderboard

63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)

64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)

66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)

67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA

First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam

Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra

Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi

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Updated: June 29, 2023, 4:34 AM