28 February 2019 at 14:36
Saudi Arabian authorities have put measures in place to regulate the movement around the Holy Ka’aba (tawaf) during the 2019 pilgrimage (hajj).
The measure, according to the authorities, is to help in crowd control similar to the recent innovation in symbolic stoning of the devil (jamarat).Hitherto, pilgrims were expected to proceed to the jamarat for the stoning ritual from Musdalifa.
However, following the Mina stampede of 2015 in which thousands of pilgrims lost their lives, the authorities introduced a turn by turn arrangements for pilgrims whereby each country is given a time to carry out their stoning ritual. Also, pilgrims normally proceed to the Holy Mosque to carry out their tawaf as one of the important rituals during hajj after the stoning ritual.
From 2019, the authorities say they will introduce a timetable for countries to carry out their tawaf.This was revealed Thursday in Makkah by the establishment in charge of African Non-Arabic Speaking Countries, popularly known as muassassa at a meeting with officials of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Also, according to the spokesperson of (NAHCON), Fatima Usara, authorities of the kingdom also revealed tough penalties await people who overstay in Makkah and their collaborators.
Credit: Sani Takur