Second Wave of Prospective Hajj Pilgrims Arrives in Mecca

The second wave of prospective pilgrims has begun arriving in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the mandatory Umrah.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

The Masjidil Haram complex in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is crowded with members of the Hajj congregation from various countries who are performing the obligatory Umrah pilgrimage on Wednesday night, May 22, 2024.

MEKKAH, KOMPAS — Waves of prospective pilgrims continue to flow into the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. Prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims flying in the second wave departure phase have begun to arrive in the city of Mecca. However, the departure of some members of the congregation was delayed, putting them at risk of fatigue.

On Friday morning, May 24, 2024, the second wave of hajj pilgrims began arriving in the city of Mecca, marked by the arrival of pilgrims from Flight Group (kloter) 27 Embarkasi Jakarta-Pondok Gede at the Menara Al-Mena Hotel in Mecca at 05:30 Saudi Arabian time.

In the lobby of Jawhart Muna Hotel, sector three, Mecca, several members of the prospective congregation were seen wearing complete ihram clothing and ready to perform the obligatory Umrah on Friday morning.

Bahari, a resident of Pariaman City, and Asnir bin Rinan (72), a resident of Padang City, West Sumatra, for example, arrived at the Jawhart Muna Hotel in Mecca at around 06:00 Saudi Arabian Time. He and his entourage departed from Padang's embarkation point.

“I have been queuing to go on the Hajj pilgrimage for 13 years. "It was delayed because of the Covid-19 (pandemic)," said Asnir.

Also read: Hajj Pilgrims Urged to Leave for Friday Prayers Early

According to an official statement from the Ministry of Religion, the departure of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who are grouped in Cluster 41 at Donohudan Embarkation (SOC-41) was delayed due to a malfunction in the Garuda Indonesia airplane engine. The delay in departure lasted quite long, up to four hours. This had an impact on the delay of other clusters.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

The Masjidil Haram complex in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is crowded with members of the Hajj congregation from various countries who are performing the obligatory Umrah pilgrimage on Wednesday night, May 22, 2024.

Based on data from the Ministry of Religion, a total of 388 members of the congregation who are members of the Kloter 27 Jakarta-Pondok Gede (JKG-27) and 388 members of the Kloter 10 Embarkation from Padang arrived in Jeddah. Upon arriving at the airport, they were already wearing complete ihram clothing, then set off to Mecca to perform the obligatory umrah worship.

The phase of the departure of the second wave of prospective Hajj pilgrims will take place from May 24th to June 10th, 2024. The pilgrims will fly from Indonesia's embarkation point to King Abdul Aziz Jeddah Airport, then proceed to Mecca for obligatory Umrah. According to Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Yusron B Ambary, this marks the beginning of the arrival phase of the second wave of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

The Head of the Regional Airport Agency for the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Hajj Worship Organizers, Abdillah, stated that the pilgrims have been sent to a hotel in Mecca for the mandatory umrah pilgrimage.

Due to the time constraints provided by airport authorities, including the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims are advised to wear ihram clothing from the embarkation point while at the airport.

Also read: Repeated Flight Delays for Prospective Hajj Pilgrims

According to the Head of the Makkah Regional Haji Administration Officers (PPIH) from the Ministry of Religion, Khalilurrahman, as of Friday (24/5/2024), there have been 76 groups from Medina who have started receiving the arrival of the second wave of hajj pilgrims from Jeddah in Mecca. "For the second wave, today (Friday) we will receive as many as 14 groups bringing 5,830 pilgrims," he said.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

A fleet of shalawat buses is preparing to take Indonesian hajj pilgrims at the terminal of the Masjidil Haram complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday (22/5/2024) night. The shalawat buses serve Indonesian hajj pilgrims 24 hours a day, every day, to facilitate their mobility from hotels to Masjidil Haram.

Accommodation services are prepared in five areas, namely Syisyah, Raudhah, Jarwal, Misfalah, and Rei Bakhsy. There are 170 hotels available for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. Friendly services for the elderly are also provided to welcome members of the pilgrimage.

"Elderly congregants are placed in rooms near the elevator to facilitate their mobility. We also provide a special menu for the elderly," he said.

Elderly pilgrims are placed in rooms near the elevator to facilitate their mobility. We also prepare a special menu for the elderly.

The Head of the Regional Accommodation Division of the Mecca Work Area for Hajj Service Officers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zaenal Muttaqin, added that the PPIH implements elder-friendly service standards. His team has coordinated with the hotel owners to provide wheelchairs for elderly pilgrims and pathways for wheelchairs.

The congregation died

Khalilurrahman added that on Wednesday morning at 4:00 Saudi Arabian time, a member of the Hajj congregation named Muslim Ismail died in the Tawaf area of Masjid al-Haram in the city of Mecca while performing the obligatory Umrah with his wife.

On the last round, which is the seventh tawaf, the pilgrim suddenly fell. After receiving first aid from the health team of the Hajj Worship Organizer at the Masjidil Haram, the pilgrim was then evacuated to Hajar Hospital in Mecca, but ultimately passed away in the hospital.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

A number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims used wheelchairs when they arrived at the Grand Mosque Complex, Mecca city, Saudi Arabia, to carry out the obligatory Umrah pilgrimage and prayers, Wednesday (22/5/2024). Wheelchair services are available for pilgrims who need them, such as senior citizens, to perform tawaf and sa'i.

"He passed away due to a heart attack after completing the seventh tawaf," he said. The deceased will be granted his right for a hajj substitution with the team prepared by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Members of the Hajj pilgrimage who are at high health risk are asked to communicate their health history to the group leader or group leader.

"When in Mecca, do not force yourself to perform the obligatory Umrah. When experiencing shortness of breath, foot pain, and other health complaints, it is better to take a break and continue only after feeling comfortable," he said.