Following the sighting of crescent and subsequent declaration of Wednesday, June 28 as the Eid-el-Kabir day, pilgrims from Kogi State have commenced preparations for their journey to Mount Arafat.
According to the state Amirul Hajj, Mallam Zakariyahu Aliyu Abubakar (Zaak), the 721 pilgrim contingent will begin their journey to Mina on June 26 where they are to spend a night.
“On Tuesday, 9th Dhul-Hijjah/27th June they will proceed to the plains of Mount Arafah where they will stay till sunset.
“At the sunset on the same day, they will move to Muzdalifah where they will pass a night.
“But the elderly and the sick will spend some few hours here and thereafter, they are moved to Mina tents where they were earlier on camped.
“Others will meet them there the following morning the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah/28th June which is Eidul-Kabir or Eid Adha day,” the Amirul hajj said.
He said from Mina, the pilgrims will be given guides by Field Service Providers to lead them to ” Jamrat where they will pelt seven pebbles at the first position called Jamrat Al-Aqaba.
“After this, on the same day, pilgrims are expected to move to Makkah to perform Tawaaful Ifaadah and Sa’i which are part of the compulsory pillars of Hajj.
“The pilgrims will return to Mina where they either stay for two or three more days to conclude the stoning of the three Jamraat before returning to Makkah.
“They will stay here continuing their spiritual activities until their date of departure to Nigeria,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Hajj Commission, Shaikh Luqman Imam Abdullahi, said necessary arrangements have been concluded with all relevant bodies for the smooth outings of the state contingent.
Abdullahi strongly advised the pilgrims to obey the rules governing their movements as stipulated by the Saudi Authorities.
He advised them to avoid “unnecessary movement at all the places mentioned as any loss at any point may cause hardship for them and the officials because of the difficulties in locating their abode resulting from the challenges of not understanding the language of the people of the Kingdom and identifying their accommodation.”
(vitalnewsngr.com)
