Mina Valley Ready to Welcome Hajj Pilgrims (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A sprawling 'city of tents' has appeared in the Mina valley, ready to welcome an estimated 2.5 million Hajj pilgrims en route to Mecca's Grand Mosque, as depicted in footage captured on Sunday.
Prepared with foldable beds, blankets, restaurants, plumbing, and other essential arrangements, the temporary accommodation anticipates a surge in worshippers, with record numbers expected to arrive on Monday for the first Hajj pilgrimage without COVID-19 restrictions.
Local media reports indicate that over 100,000 tents have been erected in the expansive Mina Valley, boasting a capacity of over 2.6 million people and spanning an area exceeding 2.5 million square meters. It is believed to be the largest 'tent city' worldwide.
During the Hajj, pilgrims will reside in Mina to carry out the ritual known as the 'stoning of the devil' at the Jamarat. This rite occurs from dawn until dusk on the final days of the pilgrimage.
Situated approximately seven kilometers from Mecca's Grand Mosque, where pilgrims annually perform ceremonial laps around the Kaaba, the Mina Valley is set to welcome Muslims from 160 countries this year.
