Executive plans for this year's Hajj have so far strictly been carried out, said the Director of Hajj and Umrah Security Department at Hajj Security Forces Major General Eng. Mansour bin Sultan Al-Turki. In a press conference in Mina today, Al-Turki said the plans to ascend pilgrims from Makkah to Arafat either directly as one third of pilgrims did one day earlier of schedule or through Mina Valley where the rest of pilgrims stayed the day before Arafat, the peak of Hajj, as Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) did more than 14 centuries ago, went smoothly as scheduled. In an unprecedented achievement, all pilgrims arrived at Arafat valley before noon on Sunday and left the place by mid-night heading for Muzdalefa where they stayed the night to move at dawn to Mina valley for a three-day stay and perform a package of rituals upon traditions of the prophet, Al-Turki added. He praised Hajj Security Forces control of the movement of pilgrims at Makkah gates and on traffic lines leading to and from Arafat. Nearly 2.5 million have completed Grand stoning ritual at Mina valley today, he concluded.
