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Thousands of maskless Muslim pilgrims kick start largest Hajj of COVID era in Saudi Arabia
Thousands of maskless Muslim pilgrims kick start largest Hajj of COVID era in Saudi Arabia
Mecca, July 6: Thousand of maskless worshippers gathered to circle Islam’s holiest site in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca on Wednesday, kick-starting the biggest hajj pilgrimage since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime duty for all able-bodied Muslims to perform if they can afford it.
In April this year, Saudi Arabia allowed one million visitors for the Hajj pilgrimage. Muslims from inside and outside the country will be able to perform the Hajj provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and no older than 65, the Kingdom has said, as reported by Al Jazeera. Last year only a few thousand domestic pilgrims were allowed to perform the Hajj due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had said in a statement that pilgrims from abroad must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test and that there will be additional health precautions. At Mecca’s Grand Mosque, pilgrims will perform the “tawaf”, the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the large cubic structure draped in golden-embroidered black cloth that Muslims around the world turn towards to pray.
Before the COVID virus emerged, some 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.–(ANI).