Hundreds of Muslim pilgrims to Mecca

Source: CCTV.com | 11-27-2006 16:38

Hundreds of Muslims have gathered in Lanzhou, the capital of Northwest China's Gansu Province. They'repreparing to leave for Mecca to make the Hajj pilgrimage. The number of pilgrims going from China this year is the largest in the country's history. Mao Xuzhi has this reports from Lanzhou.

These pilgrims come from all across Gansu. Six point five percent of the population of this northwest province are Muslim.

For the majority of these travelers, it will be the first time they have made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

As in previous years, the Muslims are gathering here under the umbrella of government supported organizations.　

This year, China will organize 10,000 Muslims to make their pilgrims to Mecca. 30 airplanes will carry them directly from China to Medinah.

These Muslims will take the first pilgrimage plane on Wednesday. Now they are waiting for the most sacred journey of their life.

China's growth and development in recent years has meant an increasing number of Chinese pilgrims can afford to take part in the Hajj.

And the government’s help with such things as visa applications, the scheduling of charter flights, and the arrangements for transportation to and accommodation in Saudi Arabia has been making the trip more and more convenient.

Thanks to the government's efforts, this year the charter planes will fly directly to Medina rather than Jeddah as in previous years. This will save the pilgrims at least 5 hours on the road.

Ma Youbo,Muslim pilgrim said,"It's my first time going to Mecca. I will go there with 3 other family members. The government has done almost everything for us. It's very convenient.I pay 24,000 yuan for a round-trip air ticket and my 40-day stay in Saudi Arabia. It's much more convenient than traveling by myself."

Pre-trip training is a must for every traveling pilgrim, because parts of the trip -- such as the symbolic stoning ritual during the Hajj can be very dangerous.

Last year, a stampede claimed 362 lives, including five Chinese pilgrims.

Ma Chengxing,Director religious administration of Gansu province said,"The number of pilgrims this year is a record high. Most of them are from remote areas in the countryside. They’ve never been out of their hometowns before let alone another country.

They need to have some common knowledge of the pilgrimage. So pre-trip training is necessary for them to better accomplish their DUTIES and to have a safe journey."

In addition to Lanzhou, 3 other cities have scheduled charter flights for the pilgrims in the coming days. They are, Urumqi in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Kunming in Southwest Yunnan Province, and in Beijing.

Editor:Du Xiaodan