MAKKAH: Special children’s areas in which children can be entertained and taught about the Haj while their parents perform the pilgrimage will be set up in Mina this year.
The entertainment areas are being set up as part of a new program — entitled Young Pilgrim — which is designed to preoccupy children while their parents are busy performing Haj rituals.
“Special areas in which children can play games and undergo lessons on Haj will be set up in Mina for children accompanying their parents during Haj,” said Ramzi bin Muhammad Makki Al-Kutubi, a Mutawwif at the Tawafa Establishment for South Asia Pilgrims. Al-Kutubi said that about 50 well-trained Saudi women would take care of children while their parents complete Haj rituals. “The educational programs which will be given to children include all the duties of Haj so that young pilgrims become well-versed on its rituals,” he said, adding that the program is both entertaining and educating.
Al-Kutubi said the program would keep children away from crowded areas where they are at risk of catching illnesses and give parents time to worship in a calm and serene atmosphere.
He said the establishment has prepared about 700 coffins for people who may die during Haj and has set up three offices in Makkah, Mina and Arafat for lost people.
Meanwhile, Commander of the Haj Passport Police Col. Ayed Al-Harbi said pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom would be fingerprinted to avoid people overstaying. “The system has been applied in all of the Kingdom’s entry points, including King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah, Jeddah Islamic Seaport and Rabigh Port,” he said.
Al-Harbi said that the taking of pilgrims’ fingerprints was done experimentally last year and that it is now a necessary procedure for all pilgrims. “It has already started at all entry points,” he added.
Al-Harbi asked all domestic pilgrims to obtain Haj permits and said all entry points into Makkah and Madinah are being manned by trained passport personnel to detect illegal pilgrims. He also said 20 university graduate Saudi women have been employed to inspect women pilgrims at checkpoints to ensure they have the required permits.
