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Pilgrims
should take care of their health and keep themselves protected
from the hot sun and the cold nights as well as the cool
temperatures inside the rooms. They should drink plenty of water
and try to eat citrus fruits to build up resistance. The doctors
and dispensaries are there to help in case medication is needed.
The common complaints are of dehydration, sunstroke, cold and
cough, flu, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters on the
feet. In case of hospitalization, the Consulate doctors would
ensure that pilgrims are looked after well in the Saudi
hospitals and Indian doctors would be regularly monitoring their
progress in the hospitals.
There are a number of natural deaths and some accidental deaths
each year during Haj. The death cases are reported by the
Maktabs officially. However, all natural deaths and accidental
deaths should also be reported instantly to the Indian Consulate
officials and doctors who would help in expediting the
formalities concerning burial of the deceased pilgrims. The
formal death certificate takes time.
A number
of pilgrims have been cheated by confidence tricksters who gain
their confidence and then take money from them on the pretext of
buying things at cheaper rates. People have been tricked into
even parting with money for the sacrifice that is supposed to be
done after Haj at Mina on the 10th of Zul Hijjah. Theft from
pilgrims is on the increase hence all precautions should be
taken.
Pilgrims need to be very careful while crossing roads,
especially main roads and highways in Makkah and Madinah.
Traffic is very fast on these roads and a number of pilgrims get
injured or die because of their own negligence. The vehicle
drivers will not stop or decrease their speed if pilgrims are
crossing the road. Pilgrims are supposed to be on alert for
vehicles coming on the road. Pilgrims should try and avoid
going for ‘ziarats’ to different places before the Haj in order
not to subject themselves to unnecessary risks.
In
Makkah as the Haj approaches the city seems to be bursting at
seams with people everywhere. The overcrowding can easily take a
toll on some of the civic amenities. Care must be taken to
ensure that water is conserved in buildings and is not wasted,
because in these days water becomes scarce and even water
tankers find it difficult to enter into many areas due to
overcrowding on the roads.
Maktabs
can also take care of cash and valuables but pilgrims must
insist on a proper receipt if they are leaving money with the
Maktab. They should not give any cash or valuables to anyone
else than to a proper person in the Maktab who should give a
proper receipt (Fatura) for the same.
Pilgrims
should avoid picking up or even touching any unattended items
anywhere. Firstly, this may constitute a security risk secondly
this may be construed as an attempt to stealing.
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Pilgrims must know that
according to the decision taken by the Saudi authorities, the
unused bus coupons for the Mashaer region will not be refunded.
Tickets not used during other parts will need to be produced
at the Maktabul Wukla office at the airport and refund claimed
then and there.
In case
pilgrims want to advance or delay their return journeys they
need to contact the CRT at the Indian Haj Office. Air India has
computerized reservation terminals and pilgrims can change their
departure schedules subject to availability of vacancies. In
case of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the tickets will be collected
and changed by the staff of the Indian Haj Office.
The
Indian Haj Mission provides full range of Consular services i.e.
issue of Emergency certificate if the passport is lost, issue of
duplicate Air ticket if the ticket is lost. However it is
important that some kind identification is always retained with
the pilgrim like the steel bracelet provided in India before
boarding.
For
relatives and friends who would like to contact pilgrims and do
not know where they are staying in Makkah, there is a
computerised database available on the internet at the
Consulate’s website at
http://www.cgijeddah.com/. The building and room numbers of
pilgrims as well as telephone number/s of building can be
obtained from the site so that they can contact them directly.
Computerised pilgrim reception centres are also set up by the
Consulate at Makkah and they can easily get pilgrim details
from there. In Madinah, they will have to contact the Consulate
office or branch offices since it is not known in advance which
building and to which contractor particular pilgrims are to go.
In Mina and Arafat pilgrims can give them the Maktab number
where they can be reached or contacted.
In order
to make Haj easier, pilgrims always need to pray to Allah. They
must show exemplary behaviour and patience that behoves the
guests of Allah and should never lose the slight of the main
purpose for which they are visiting Saudi Arabia. . The
officials can only aid and assist them in their endeavour. No
bandobast is foolproof and, therefore, individual efforts
and the spirit of accommodation are essential for the success of
this supreme experience. |
