Nearly 2.5 million pilgrims began on Monday the first day of the Eid Al-Adha feast, by stoning the Jamarat Al-Aqaba, followed by sacrificing animal to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son for God and then shaving the head or trimming the hair. The first step of the ritual went on smoothly and with ease. Monday's ritual was the first real test for Haj forces preparations on Al-Jamarat bridge. Saudi authorities have made renovations to ease the flow of pilgrims at the bridge, adding an extra level so that they have four platforms from which to throw stones each day. Authorities also appealed to pilgrims this year to throw their stones at any time of day rather than only in the afternoon. “It took a long time since they made us go in one line, but it was easy to do,” said Osama Khashaba, an Egyptian accountant, after throwing stones at the Jamarat Bridge in a ritual representing rejection of Satan's temptation. “We controlled the huge number of pilgrims who locked from Muzdalifah toward Al-Jamarat area,” said Yahya Al-Harbi, a security forces official as he was guiding pilgrims in their rites. Al-Harbi said the huge project of Al-Jamarat helped the Haj security forces and the participating sectors to accomplish their mission effectively. “Alhamdulillah, as you see the situation now, it is really a huge project that helps and serves pilgrims,” Al-Harbi added. The Ministry of Interior has deployed more than 10,000 security personnel over the Jamarat area to organize the movement of pilgrims as they went up and down the 3-level Jamarat Bridge to perform their stoning rituals Monday. Mass movement of pilgrims to throw their pebbles on the first day of stoning was planned to take different directions through the 28 bridge exit and entry ramps to break down crowd congestions at those points. The task force was seen clearing the way from squatting pilgrims. A new electronic monitoring system implemented this year has helped to closely watch the movement of pilgrims to and from the bridge, said Gen. Saad Al-Khilaiwi, assistant chief of General Security for Operations. Areas leading to the Jamarat Bridge have been red-marked where squatters cannot use to block the smooth movement of pilgrims to the bridge. Civil Defense, Ministry of Health and Saudi Red Crescent also participated in the Al-Jamarat plans. Tawafa offices cooperated with other government bodies as they managed the stream of pilgrims according to scheduled time for each office. Civil defense was there in the area monitoring the impeccable arrangements to avoid massing of pilgrims on the Jamarat Bridge. Red crescent ambulances also were ready to deal with any health case that might need assistance. More than three helicopters hovered in the sky to monitor the huge crowds and report for any jamming in a specific area of the big project. Mohmoud Al-Sayed, an Egyptian expatriate working in Dammam, said that it is incredible scene to see the pilgrims moving toward Al-Aqaba pillar in batches. “This is my first journey to Haj but I used to watch the pilgrims through televisions in the previous years, I can say that this is the most successful season,” Mahmoud told the Saudi Gazette. Earlier on Sunday night, pilgrims moved from Muzdalifa after they spent some hours to collect stones in accordance with the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) teachings. Ministry of Interior announced that the pilgrims' movement from Arafat to Muzdalifah and then to Mina was successful and without accidents. After accomplishing their rites of stoning, some pilgrims went on foot-journey went to Al-Muaisim slaughterhouses to witness the ritual of sacrifice while many others preferred to have their heads shaved first or have their hair trimmed. The Ministry of Health said health status of pilgrims was very good, with no report of epidemic diseases. Most pilgrims return to the Grand Mosque in Makkah after the first round of stoning rituals late on Sunday. Many crowded into the mosque in the early hours of the morning, circling the Ka'ba. Afterwards men had their heads shaved, according to the rules of Haj. “It will take three minutes a head,” said a man ushering people into a busy barbershop near the mosque. On Sunday, pilgrims spent the day in prayer at Arafat 15 km (10 miles) east of Makkah at the climax of Haj, a duty for every able-bodied Muslim once in a lifetime and one of the largest manifestations of religious devotion in the world today. “Being here is better than anything I have ever experienced ... better than the time I saw my children for the first time,” said Rawya Mohammad, a secretary from Egypt. “I feel privileged. I am one in a million Muslims with the honour of performing pilgrimage this year. This is a reward,” said Omar Salah, a 38-year-old engineer, also from Egypt. Some prayed for an end to the global financial crisis. “The economic crisis is on the mind of most pilgrims ... It's an unexpected crisis and the only solution is mercy from heaven,” said Mohammad Fateh, from an Egyptian brokerage. I came here because I have always wished to come,” said Umm Hassan from Egypt. “I hope God gives me the health and fortune to come a second and third and even more times.” __
