KALADAN NEWS

Dated: Thursday January 15, 2004

Flow Of Pilgrims From Arakan State to Makkah

Chittagong, January 15: Pilgrims from northern Arakan State flow in Bangladesh to continue to Makkah to perform Haj (pilgrimage), said a pilgrim in Bangladesh, who is on his way to Makkah.

A pilgrim from Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships of Arakan State has to pay Kyat 150,000 to Nasaka (Border Security Force) and Military Intelligent (MI)-18 respectively. Anyone who is able to pay said money is allowed to perform pilgrimage to Makkah through Bangladesh, he further added.

SPDC authorities legally permitted 12 members from Maungdaw and 4 members from Buthidaung Townships to perform Haj. They all have to go to Makkah through Rangoon and will be returned at the same way. The exact figures of pilgrims from Arakan State and Burma proper are not known, said another pilgrim.

For centuries, countless millions of Muslims from around the world have made their journey to Makkah, the center of the world, to perform the pilgrimage known as Haj. It is the largest annual religious gathering in the world, drawing Muslims from over one hundred nations.

During Haj rituals are performed that are symbolic of the teachings of Islam and date back to the trials of Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and his family. According to the Qur’an, Abraham and his oldest son Ismael built the Ka’baa, which is the Qibla or direction all Muslims face in prayer five times a day.

It is expected that around 2 million pilgrims from all over the world, half of them from Saudi Arabia would be performed Haj this year. ##

Note: USD 1= Kyat 890

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