"It`s quite a lot," said Ramon Andreas, a health officer from Indonesian Hajj Missions, here on Friday, while confirming the deaths of Indonesian hajj pilgrims who had gone to perform the wukuf.
Andreas noted that the wukuf procession was a testing time for hajj pilgrims as they were required to be in good health. However, he added, 80 percent of Indonesian hajj pilgrims were over 60 years of age.
"Besides, 80 percent of Indonesian hajj pilgrims who have died in the Holy Land this time were aged over 65," he pointed out.
"When the mosques of Mecca echoed with sounds of Takbir (Islamic prayer), 211,000 Indonesian hajj pilgrims this year were fulfilling maqtab-maqtab in Mina in order to continue their pilgrimage procession (involving throwing stones at `Jumrah Aqabah`, one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in the Hajj) after performing mabit in the evening at Muzdalifah," Andreas stated.
A number of pilgrims were planning to perform tawaf and sa`i at the Masjidil Haram Grand Mosque before throwing stones at Jumrah in order to avoid traffic jams in Mina and Muzdalifah.
After performing wukuf, which is considered to be the most important part of hajj pilgrimage, pilgrims have the option to either get involved in Jumrah Aqabah in Mina or perform tawaf and sa`i at the Masjidil Haram Grand Mosque.
"Then, the hajj pilgrims can take off their `ihrom` clothing and continue taking part in other rituals performed on the second and third day of pelting stones at the three satanic symbols, namely Aqabah, Ula and Wusto, or they can do tahalul (cutting and shaving hair)," Andreas said.
(C005/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
