Emotions Abound at Farewell Ceremony for Haj Pilgrims

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MEDAN, KOMPAS —The first group of prospective haj pilgrims in Medan, North Sumatra, left for Saudi Arabia on Friday (12/7/2019). Some 8,531 prospective haj pilgrims divided into 22 groups will depart to Saudi Arabia between July 12 and August 5. The farewell ceremony for the first group of prospective haj pilgrims at the Medan haj dormitory on Friday was filled with emotions.

Prospective pilgrim Aniata Tamaria, 58, was one of many who cried in the ceremony. “I am grateful for being able to go on the pilgrimage this year,” said Aniata, who sells rice cakes for a living.

In order to go on the pilgrimage, Aniata said she had saved Rp 30,000 (US$2.14) every day for 15 years. She registered to go on the haj in 2011, before finally getting her turn this year.

The group’s oldest prospective pilgrim, Jaliyah D Usman, 98, said it was hard to believe that she was finally going on the haj. She was on a wheelchair and accompanied by her daughter. Jaliyah said that she was grateful that her children paid for her pilgrimage. “Hopefully, I can finish the whole pilgrimage and return home healthy,” Jaliyah said.

North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi officially sent off Medan’s first group of prospective haj pilgrims at the Medan haj dormitory. North Sumatra Religious Affairs Agency head Iwan Zulhami and Health Ministry secretary-general Oscar Primadi also attended the ceremony.

Iwan said the first group comprised 388 prospective haj pilgrims and five officers. Officers have conducted health, administrative and biometric checks on all the pilgrims. “Some had light sickness. The doctors said that they could still go on the pilgrimage,” he said.

Five stayed back

In Malang, East Java, it was reported that five prospective haj pilgrims from Malang regency either failed to join their groups in going to Saudi Arabia or had to delay their departure. Of these five, one died, three were ill and one was unable to go.

This year, 2,287 prospective haj pilgrims in five groups will depart from Malang regency. As of Friday, four groups had departed to the holy Llnd.

In Sidoarjo, East Java, all belongings of prospective haj pilgrims that did not comply with haj regulations were seized and would not be returned to their owners. Instead, they will be destroyed, to provide a deterrent effect and valuable lesson to the prospective pilgrims and the general public. It is hoped that such violations will not reoccur in the future.

East Java Religious Affairs Agency acting head Mochammad Amin Mahfud said that, almost in every haj season, the Haj Organizing Committee (PPIH) found some pilgrims trying to take things that violated regulations, either because the items had been banned or exceeded the allowed amount.

“This is a recurring issue year after year, with prospective pilgrims bringing portable stoves, matches and cooking oil. The Religious Affairs Agency has informed prospective pilgrims about the rules during the pre-pilgrimage training,” Amin said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry’s fast response team continues to monitor the health of prospective pilgrimage at Nabawi Grand Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The health team also continues to remind prospective pilgrims, especially the elderly, to drink regularly and spray water on their faces to prevent dehydration. Furthermore, prospective pilgrims are told to wear sandals as the mosque’s yard is hot in the current extreme weather.

Fast response team member Taufik Ridwan said that he had helped two prospective pilgrims whose soles blistered as they had been walking without sandals. On Friday afternoon, the temperature in Medina reached 38 degrees Celsius. “These were generally old pilgrims. When they went out of the mosque, they forgot where they put their sandals so they just walked back to their accommodation without wearing them,” he said. (NSA/NIK/WER/HAM)

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