Over 2 million Muslims begin annual hajj pilgrimage

Chop ChopToday 04:27 am JSTThey are circling the Kaaba where the black stone was housed. The Muslims thought the black stone was given by Allah.

Some scientists think the stone is a big meteorite. Same general idea - 'given by God'.

Assuming you survive the worshipers anger.

Aye, you have to be careful with those loyalist types.

Sectarianism is a terrible beast, so it is.

Otherwise, it would be a magnificent even to experience.

starpunkAug. 20  01:01 pm JST

It usually goes OK, but I remember when one happened in 1987. that's when some Iranian agents came to start a ruckus. their 'Islamic' Republic government is always causing problems for others anyway.

TIL that one anecdote about an event 31 years ago = "always"

They are circling the Kaaba where the black stone was housed. The Muslims thought the black stone was given by Allah.

katsu78Today 08:41 am JSTsmithinjapanAug. 19  11:04 pm JST

It would be an amazing journey, in all respects. I hope there are no stampedes this year to mar the event.

I agree, though the huge volumes of people going into a finite space suggest to me that no level of management or safety precautions could ever prevent the risk of stampede.

It usually goes OK, but I remember when one happened in 1987. that's when some Iranian agents came to start a ruckus. their 'Islamic' Republic government is always causing problems for others anyway.

smithinjapanAug. 19  11:04 pm JST

It would be an amazing journey, in all respects. I hope there are no stampedes this year to mar the event.

I agree, though the huge volumes of people going into a finite space suggest to me that no level of management or safety precautions could ever prevent the risk of stampede.

"It would be an amazing journey, in all respects"

I concur.

It would be an amazing journey, in all respects. I hope there are no stampedes this year to mar the event.

Funny thing the Saudi government does its best to protect Islam's holiest shrines and the hajj travelers yet they themselves are greedy oil-drinking fanatics that oppress all other religions - even Muslims who don't subscribe to their official state creed of Wahabbiism. And the Quran emphasizes tolerance and respect for others, particularly the 'People of the Book' (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, etc.) but the Saudi government sure doesn't practice it. Not at all.

Oh, but there's the tourism industry. Money changes everything. Big money got no soul.

Tourists are not welcomed in the Kingdom of Saud so....

JeffLeeToday 05:24 pm JST

if discovered, the penalty can be a prison sentence and deportation.

Assuming you survive the worshipers anger.

"The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world's biggest gathering every year, a trip required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life."

I guess the pressure to go gets pretty heavy if you're over 60 and you haven't gone yet.

"What a great business Saudis ( Mecca ) have!"

Heck, the Vatican oughta impose this decree on all Catholics in the world!

a trip required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life

What a great business Saudis have!

Just to add to what JeffLee posted, it’s difficult to enter Saudi Arabia in the first place, never mind the prohibitions on infidels entering the holy areas.

"Love to go."

If you're not a Muslim, then sorry. The Hajj is intended for Muslims only, and the territory around Mecca and Medina is off-limits to non-Muslims. If you are a non-Muslim and you do manage to enter anyway, it is considered sacrilege and, if discovered, the penalty can be a prison sentence and deportation. 

https://wikitravel.org/en/Hajj

Let’s hope it’s without incident this year.

Love to go.

watched a documentary this morning, they have built capsule hotels based on Japanese models.