Race for ‘Udhiyah’ Begins

JEDDAH, 12 January 2006 — The annual Haj begins another type of pilgrimage, that of poor African bag ladies seeking a piece of the charity-meat pie. The Al-Madinah daily reported that the perennial gathering of the impoverished women hoping to collect charitable hand-outs has begun. They gather at roadsides and intersections beseeching Eid celebrants to direct charity toward them. Some of the women can be seen racing each other when they see cars slow down. Shopping carts normally filled with empty cans, glass, and other recyclable rubbish are filled with “udhiya”, or sacrificial meat.