India Fraternity Forum to deploy 1,000 volunteers in holy sites of Mina and Arafat
By ARJUWAN LAKKDAWALA | ARAB NEWS
Published: Nov 4, 2011 00:44 Updated: Nov 4, 2011 01:25
JEDDAH: The India Fraternity Forum, a social service organization, announced its preparations for Haj with 1,000 volunteers ready to serve the pilgrims in the holy sites of Mina and Arafat.
One thousand men and women have registered to serve the pilgrims, E. M. Abdulla, general coordinator of the group, told Arab News. The organization began their Haj volunteer service eight years ago.
We started preparing for Haj since Ramadan. This year, for the first time, members from the womens wing of the organization will be deployed for two days in Mina as guides to help the pilgrims. A large number of people had volunteered to serve the pilgrims, but we closed registration at 1,000 because we couldnt accommodate more, he said.
Haj guides in six different Indian languages have been trained by the volunteers service of the forum. Highlighting safety and health, a manual was distributed among pilgrims to educate them before they came for Haj.
A detailed map of Mina highlighting major roads and other landmarks is being updated for the pilgrims.
According to the forum this year though entry to the Haj Terminal was restricted for security reasons, the Forum had received passes for their volunteers.
We were able to get entry passes because we are working in coordination with WAMY (The World Assembly of Muslim Youth) and the Indian Consulate, Abdulla said.
The volunteers have been serving pilgrims since the first flights from India landed in Jeddah and Madinah.
The Indian Haj mission arranged first aid training program for the forum volunteers. The volunteer service in Mina will start from Dul Hijjah 7 under area captains, and will continue until the last pilgrim leaves Mina after completing the rituals. This team will also help in case of any emergency.
The help desk of the forum is operational in Jeddah to locate pilgrims round the clock, which is a unique feature of the forum volunteer service.
The help desk will help locate a missing pilgrim even when the pilgrim doesnt have an identification on him.
Fraternity Forum to deploy 1,000 volunteers in holy sites - Arab News
Hajj 2011: 1.25 lakh Indians arrive in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has completed all preparations for the largest Muslim gathering by mobilising all its resources to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims.
JEDDAH: Nearly 2.5 million Muslims, including 1,24,948 Indians have arrived till on Thursday for the world's largest annual human assembly, Hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi Arabia stepped up preparation for the event which peaks on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia has completed all preparations for the largest Muslim gathering by mobilising all its resources to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims.
"Many of the 2.5 million pilgrims, who are expected to perform Hajj this year, will leave for the Mina valley, located five km east of Mecca, on Thursday evening at the start of the annual pilgrimage. The rest of them will proceed to the tent city Friday," Arab News said.
The pilgrimage will peak on Saturday as Muslims gather in the plain of Mount Arafat, on the outskirts of Mecca.
"A total of 1,24,948 pilgrims have arrived from India. 1,24,882 are in Mecca and 3 pilgrims are in Madina. So far 435 flights have come from India," Consulate General of India said here on Thursday.
"As of today 75 pilgrims have expired out of which 63 came through Haj committee and 12 through private tour operators," it said.
The majority of the faithful who are performing Hajj for the first time are immensely happy for having gotten the rare opportunity. They repeat the religious slogan: "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" (O God, we are here in response to your call).
This year the pilgrims will enjoy full-scale operation of the Mashair Railway that links the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. The train service will bring about a dramatic improvement in the transport of pilgrims by carrying more than 1 million faithful during the peak Hajj days.
Hajj 2011: 1.25 lakh Indians arrive in Saudi Arabia - The Times of India
By ARJUWAN LAKKDAWALA | ARAB NEWS
Published: Nov 4, 2011 00:44 Updated: Nov 4, 2011 01:25
JEDDAH: The India Fraternity Forum, a social service organization, announced its preparations for Haj with 1,000 volunteers ready to serve the pilgrims in the holy sites of Mina and Arafat.
One thousand men and women have registered to serve the pilgrims, E. M. Abdulla, general coordinator of the group, told Arab News. The organization began their Haj volunteer service eight years ago.
We started preparing for Haj since Ramadan. This year, for the first time, members from the womens wing of the organization will be deployed for two days in Mina as guides to help the pilgrims. A large number of people had volunteered to serve the pilgrims, but we closed registration at 1,000 because we couldnt accommodate more, he said.
Haj guides in six different Indian languages have been trained by the volunteers service of the forum. Highlighting safety and health, a manual was distributed among pilgrims to educate them before they came for Haj.
A detailed map of Mina highlighting major roads and other landmarks is being updated for the pilgrims.
According to the forum this year though entry to the Haj Terminal was restricted for security reasons, the Forum had received passes for their volunteers.
We were able to get entry passes because we are working in coordination with WAMY (The World Assembly of Muslim Youth) and the Indian Consulate, Abdulla said.
The volunteers have been serving pilgrims since the first flights from India landed in Jeddah and Madinah.
The Indian Haj mission arranged first aid training program for the forum volunteers. The volunteer service in Mina will start from Dul Hijjah 7 under area captains, and will continue until the last pilgrim leaves Mina after completing the rituals. This team will also help in case of any emergency.
The help desk of the forum is operational in Jeddah to locate pilgrims round the clock, which is a unique feature of the forum volunteer service.
The help desk will help locate a missing pilgrim even when the pilgrim doesnt have an identification on him.
Fraternity Forum to deploy 1,000 volunteers in holy sites - Arab News
Hajj 2011: 1.25 lakh Indians arrive in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has completed all preparations for the largest Muslim gathering by mobilising all its resources to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims.
JEDDAH: Nearly 2.5 million Muslims, including 1,24,948 Indians have arrived till on Thursday for the world's largest annual human assembly, Hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi Arabia stepped up preparation for the event which peaks on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia has completed all preparations for the largest Muslim gathering by mobilising all its resources to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims.
"Many of the 2.5 million pilgrims, who are expected to perform Hajj this year, will leave for the Mina valley, located five km east of Mecca, on Thursday evening at the start of the annual pilgrimage. The rest of them will proceed to the tent city Friday," Arab News said.
The pilgrimage will peak on Saturday as Muslims gather in the plain of Mount Arafat, on the outskirts of Mecca.
"A total of 1,24,948 pilgrims have arrived from India. 1,24,882 are in Mecca and 3 pilgrims are in Madina. So far 435 flights have come from India," Consulate General of India said here on Thursday.
"As of today 75 pilgrims have expired out of which 63 came through Haj committee and 12 through private tour operators," it said.
The majority of the faithful who are performing Hajj for the first time are immensely happy for having gotten the rare opportunity. They repeat the religious slogan: "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" (O God, we are here in response to your call).
This year the pilgrims will enjoy full-scale operation of the Mashair Railway that links the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. The train service will bring about a dramatic improvement in the transport of pilgrims by carrying more than 1 million faithful during the peak Hajj days.
Hajj 2011: 1.25 lakh Indians arrive in Saudi Arabia - The Times of India
