About a thousand Indian nationals have given up their holiday this year to help their countrymen and women perform Haj. They work at the airport and pilgrim camps at the holy sites. They have varied tasks, including helping pilgrims overcome the language barrier, dealing with those who are lost and helping the sick and infirm go to hospital. The volunteers include 15 doctors, eight engineers and a number of accountants and technicians employed at Saudi companies across the nation. The idea of volunteering for Haj was formed six years ago during an informal gathering of seven Indians. They decided that the Haj break was too short to go home and that they would rather spend their time in service to others. They had 29 volunteers that year. Last year they had a total of 890 volunteers. Abu Bakr Banjawa, a leader of the volunteer group at the holy sites, says they coordinate their work with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and the Indian Embassy. “Anyone who wants to volunteer must submit their papers to the relevant authorities for approval,” he says. Volunteer Ali Bekay says he does it “for the sake of Allah.” Bekay was speaking just after he had convinced an Indian pilgrim to hand over his passport to a Haj company's staff. The pilgrim had earlier refused to do so because of the language barrier. The work of the volunteers takes place mostly at airports. This is where translators are needed the most. Authorities this year allowed 25 volunteers to work inside the Pilgrim's Building. They have worked there since the first Indian flight landed two months ago.
