Status: 01/10/2023 10:54 am
In the first year of the pandemic, Mecca looked empty. And in the past two years, there have also been strict restrictions on the pilgrimage that Muslims should make once in a lifetime. This time everything can be the same as before.
After three pilgrimages with strict restrictions due to the corona pandemic, Saudi Arabia is lifting all restrictions on Hajj pilgrims this year. “The number of pilgrims will be back to pre-pandemic levels, with no age restrictions whatsoever,” Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfik al-Rabiah told reporters in Riyadh.
The great pilgrimage Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every devout Muslim who is in good health and can afford it is required to participate in pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
The Hajj takes place only once a year over a fixed period of five days. This year it’s the end of June. The small pilgrimage Umrah, on the other hand, can take place at any time of the year.
In 2020, pilgrims still had to circle the Kaaba, the central sanctuary of Islam, at a good distance from each other.
Image: dpa
Greatly reduced numbers during the pandemic
Before the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people came to the city of Mecca, holy to Muslims, every year. In 2019, around 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world took part in the Hajj.
In the two years that followed, the numbers were drastically reduced: only 10,000 believers were admitted to the Hajj in 2020, compared to 60,000 in 2021. In addition, strict conditions applied. Only believers resident in Saudi Arabia and between the ages of 18 and 65 were admitted.
Last year, almost 900,000 pilgrims were allowed to travel to Mecca and Medina, including around 780,000 Muslim pilgrims from abroad – but only if they were under 65 years old, vaccinated and could show a negative corona test.