Syed Jaffer Imam

Eid-al-Adha is one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar. The 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja (Also called Dul hijjaH) is marked as Eid-al-Adha or Bakrid. Also Read: Decked up goats take over Delhi Meena's Bazaar ahead of Eid-ul-Adha,Dhu al-Hijjah is the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar that has so many historic events associated with it. Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj in this very month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid-al-Adha or Bakrid as we call it, is celebrated by Muslims around the world to remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in the bible) towards Allah. Also Read: Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat as hajj reaches apex,On Eid-al-Adha Muslims sacrifice four-legged animals (goat or sheep or camel) in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim who agreed to the sacrifice of his son Ismail for his duty and love for Allah. Ismail was replaced by a sheep as Allah was happy with the devotion shown by Prophet Ibrahim. Also Read: Bakrid: Several 'Imams' appeal to Muslims to not offer sacrifices of animals in open spaces,No Eid is complete without the special sweet dishes. The rising health concern compels people to look for alternatives to desserts. You can, however, enjoy desserts on Eid without worrying about the sugar intake. Here are 5 sugar-free desserts that you can try on this Eid-al-Adha. Faldhari Badam Ki Barfi,The sugar-free recipe of Faldhari Badam Ki Barfi will allow you to indulge in Eid vibes in full flow. This dessert requires different kinds of nuts and mawa with some dehydrated fruits and cardamom. Oats Kheer,Oats kheer is a great ‘healthy’ way to celebrate Eid. You need to pick roasted oats, cook them with some milk, add nuts and fruits, and enjoy your delicious, healthy dessert. Grilled Almond Barfi,Another mouth-watering dessert that is easy to make and healthy to consume. You need khoya, roasted crushed almonds, and caramelized sugar-free substitutes to make delicious Grilled Almond Barfi. Khaas Malpoi,This is a fusion dessert where Carrot Halwa is stuffed in crepes. These crepes are served on rabri topped with pista and almonds. In Khaas Malpoi, you get the taste of three desserts in one and no surprises, all of them are sugar-free. Sugar-free Phirni,Imagining Phirni without sugar is tough but the last dessert on this list requires no sugar. Phirni is a traditional Eid dessert that has rice, milk, fruits, and nuts in it. A sugar-free Phirni is prepared with rice, milk, nuts, and rosewater. A little bit of stevia can be added to make it sweeter.

{\"time\":1657350324501,\"strCount\":3212,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/why-is-eid-al-adha-celebrated-history-and-significance\\\">Eid-al-Adha </a>is one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar. The 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja (Also called Dul hijjaH) is marked as Eid-al-Adha or <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/eid-al-adha-mubarak-wishes-images-and-greetings-319636/\\\">Bakrid</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/decked-up-goats-take-over-delhi-meenas-bazaar-ahead-of-eid-ul-adha-696874/\\\">Decked up goats take over Delhi Meena's Bazaar ahead of Eid-ul-Adha</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Dhu al-Hijjah is the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar that has so many historic events associated with it. Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj in this very month of&nbsp; Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid-al-Adha or Bakrid as we call it, is celebrated by Muslims around the world to remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in the bible) towards Allah.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/associatedpress/muslim-pilgrims-pray-at-mount-arafat-as-hajj-reaches-apex-696531/\\\">Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat as hajj reaches apex</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On Eid-al-Adha Muslims sacrifice four-legged animals (goat or sheep or camel) in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim who agreed to the sacrifice of his son Ismail for his duty and love for Allah. Ismail was replaced by a sheep as Allah was happy with the devotion shown by <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/tale-of-eid-al-adha-prophet-ibrahims-test-of-faith-437786/\\\">Prophet Ibrahim</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/bakrid-several-imams-appeal-to-muslims-to-not-offer-sacrifices-of-animals-in-open-spaces-696942/\\\">Bakrid: Several 'Imams' appeal to Muslims to not offer sacrifices of animals in open spaces</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"No Eid is complete without the special sweet dishes. The rising health concern compels people to look for alternatives to desserts. You can, however, enjoy desserts on Eid without worrying about the sugar intake. Here are 5 sugar-free desserts that you can try on this Eid-al-Adha.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Faldhari Badam Ki Barfi\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The sugar-free recipe of Faldhari Badam Ki Barfi will allow you to indulge in Eid vibes in full flow. This dessert requires different kinds of nuts and mawa with some dehydrated fruits and cardamom.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"&nbsp;Oats Kheer\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Oats kheer is a great ‘healthy’ way to celebrate Eid. You need to pick roasted oats, cook them with some milk, add nuts and fruits, and enjoy your delicious, healthy dessert.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Grilled Almond Barfi\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Another mouth-watering dessert that is easy to make and healthy to consume. You need khoya, roasted crushed almonds, and caramelized sugar-free substitutes to make delicious Grilled Almond Barfi.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"&nbsp;Khaas Malpoi\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"This is a fusion dessert where Carrot Halwa is stuffed in crepes. These crepes are served on rabri topped with pista and almonds. In Khaas Malpoi, you get the taste of three desserts in one and no surprises, all of them are sugar-free.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"&nbsp;Sugar-free Phirni\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Imagining Phirni without sugar is tough but the last dessert on this list requires no sugar. Phirni is a traditional Eid dessert that has rice, milk, fruits, and nuts in it. A sugar-free Phirni is prepared with rice, milk, nuts, and rosewater. A little bit of stevia can be added to make it sweeter.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Dhu al-Hijjah is the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar that has so many historic events associated with it</li>
 <li>Eid-al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims around the world to remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim</li>
 <li>You can enjoy these five desserts on Eid without worrying about the sugar intake</li>
</ul>

Opoyi Buzz

Eid-al-Adha 2022: 5 sugar-free desserts for the festival

hajj

Sweets

dessert

Food

Lifestyle

Shuvrajit Das Biswas

Mecca Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will allow a million hajj pilgrims in 2022, Agence France-Presse reported. The news comes after two years of foreign pilgrims being disallowed to perform hajj since the world was grappling with coronavirus. ,In 2021, Saudi Arabia restricted the number to 60,000 pilgrims, allowing only residents and citizens to be part of it. Their response to the coronavirus pandemic made the ministry announce, Those wishing to perform the hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated while clarifying that those between 18 and 65 can attend, Al Jazeera reported at the time. Also Read | Tale of Eid al-Adha: Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith,The statement added, In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic … and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation. ,Back in 2020, the numbers were even lesser, with Saudi Arabia keeping it to a meagre 1,000 residents and citizens, as the world entered the first year of the pandemic. It marked the first time in modern ages when Muslims abroad were barred from attending the pilgrimage. ,What is hajj? ,Hajj is a duty that all able-bodied Muslims attempt to undertake once in their lifetime, if they can afford it, and happens to be a major source of income for the Saudi Arabia government. ,Prior to the COVID-mandated social distancing rules, hajj pilgrimages witnessed nearly 2.5 million believers journey to Mecca and Medina, the holiest sites of Islam, for the week-long event. A lesser number of devotees signed up for the Umrah pilgrimage, which went on for a year. ,Also Read | Scientists study virus spread in social animals Dolphins,As per Al Jazeera, the data shows both pilgrimages together made the Saudi government around $12 billion in a year. ,There's been some relief regarding the COVID condition in Saudi Arabia, which is why preventive measures to combat it were lifted in March 2022. ,Authorities had already said earlier that Umrah would return to full capacity once the coronavirus threat was reduced. This year, pilgrims were allowed to return for Umrah. Now, by allowing a million hajj pilgrims, the Saudi government has taken cognizance of the fact that COVID no longer poses as serious a threat to pilgrims, after the world has seen massive vaccination drives in the past year.

{\"time\":1649475131747,\"strCount\":3339,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Saudi Arabia will allow a million <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/saudi-arabia-gears-up-for-downsized-hajj-130008/\\\">hajj</a> pilgrims in 2022, Agence France-Presse reported. The news comes after two years of foreign pilgrims being disallowed to perform hajj since the world was grappling with <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/covid-19-all-variants-of-the-novel-coronavirus-explained-588681/\\\">coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In 2021, Saudi Arabia restricted the number to&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/saudi-arabia-limits-hajj-to-60000-people-no-overseas-pilgrims-this-year-539794/\\\">60,000 pilgrims</a>, allowing only residents and citizens to be part of it. Their response to the coronavirus pandemic made the ministry announce, \\\"Those wishing to perform the hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated\\\" while clarifying that those between 18 and 65 can attend, Al Jazeera reported at the time.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/tale-of-eid-al-adha-prophet-ibrahims-test-of-faith-437786/\\\">Tale of Eid al-Adha: Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The statement added, \\\"In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic … and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation\\\".&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Back in 2020, the numbers were even lesser, with Saudi Arabia keeping it to a meagre <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/saudi-arabia-concludes-downsized-hajj-amid-pandemic-177203/\\\">1,000 residents and citizens</a>, as the world entered the first year of the pandemic. It marked the first time in modern ages when <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/technology/hajj-goes-virtual-for-families-of-lucky-pilgrims-477573/\\\">Muslims abroad</a> were barred from attending the pilgrimage.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"What is hajj?&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Hajj is a duty that all able-bodied Muslims attempt to undertake once in their lifetime, if they can afford it, and happens to be a major source of income for the Saudi Arabia government.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Prior to the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/new-study-shows-efficacy-of-face-masks-and-social-distancing-iit-bhubaneswar-315494/\\\">COVID-mandated social distancing</a> rules, hajj pilgrimages witnessed nearly 2.5 million believers journey to Mecca and Medina, the holiest sites of Islam, for the week-long event. A lesser number of devotees signed up for the&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/saudi-arabia-resumes-umrah-6000-pilgrims-allowed-per-day-581348/\\\">Umrah</a> pilgrimage, which went on for a year.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/health/scientists-study-virus-spread-in-social-animals-dolphins-419270/\\\">Scientists study virus spread in social animals Dolphins</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"As per Al Jazeera, the data shows both pilgrimages together made the Saudi government around $12 billion in a year.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"There's been some relief regarding the COVID condition in Saudi Arabia, which is why preventive measures to combat it were lifted in March 2022. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Authorities had already said earlier that Umrah would return to full capacity once the coronavirus threat was reduced. This year, pilgrims were allowed to return for Umrah. Now, by allowing a million hajj pilgrims, the Saudi government has taken cognizance of the fact that COVID no longer poses as serious a threat to pilgrims, after the world has seen massive <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/what-happens-after-you-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-533720/\\\">vaccination drives</a> in the past year.&nbsp;\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Saudi Arabia will allow a million hajj pilgrims in 2022, AFP reported&nbsp;</li>
 <li>In 2020 and 2021 only residents and citizens were allowed&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Umrah pilgrimage, which is year-long, has started for 2022, with COVID restrictions being eased</li>
</ul>

Opoyi Central

Saudi Arabia to allow a million hajj pilgrims in 2022, easing COVID rules

SaudiArabia

mecca

medina

Muslim

Islam

Allah

covid19

worldnews

World

Gauri Gaur

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Rapper Travis Scott’s most recent live performance ended in a disaster as fans surged towards the stage during a Houston music festival. The incident generated panic and ended up taking the lives of eight people with a number of concert goers sustained other injuries. Explained: Why crowd surges can kill people,We take a moment to look back on some of the world’s biggest crowd disasters:,October 20, 1982 – Football supporters had gathered at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to witness a clash between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem (a team of the Netherlands). The match ended with 66 people dying while leaving the venue. ,May 28, 1985 - Violence erupted amongst the fans of English giants Liverpool and Italian giants Juventus after the 1985 European Cup Final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, 39 people died. Rapper Travis Scott 'devastated' by Astroworld Festival accident,April 15, 1989 – As a result of overcrowding at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, 97 people died while hundreds of others sustained injuries. ,July 2, 1990 – 1,426 Muslim Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia died in and around a tunnel leading from Mecca to Mina during the annual hajj. ,November 23, 1994 – A political protest in Nagpur became the victim of a panicked crush with 113 people dead as a result. ,May 9, 2001 – The police resorted to throwing tear gas in order to control a rowdy crowd at a stadium in Ghana’s capital Accra which killed more than 120 people. ,January 25, 2005 – 265 Hindu pilgrims lost their lives near the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra after panic spread amongst the crowd. 8 dead, many injured at Astroworld Fest in Texas: Officials,February 4, 2006 – A panicked crowd at the PhilSports Arena stampede in Manila, Philippines ended up killing 78 people. ,July 4, 2010 – 21 people died and over 650 were injured at the Love Parade music festival in Duisburg, Germany due to poor planning. A packed tunnel was the only access point to the venue. ,January 27, 2013 – Over 200 people lost their lives in a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil. ,September 24, 2015 – 2,411 pilgrims lost their lives while attending the hajj in Saudi Arabia

{\"time\":1636259227883,\"strCount\":2423,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Rapper Travis Scott’s\\nmost recent live performance ended in a disaster as fans surged towards the stage\\nduring a Houston music festival. The incident generated panic and ended up\\ntaking the lives of eight people with a number of concert goers sustained other\\ninjuries.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/usa/explained-why-crowd-surges-can-kill-people-153996/\\\">Explained: Why crowd surges can kill people</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"We take a moment to\\nlook back on some of the world’s biggest crowd disasters:\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"October 20, 1982 – Football\\nsupporters had gathered at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to witness a clash\\nbetween Spartak Moscow and Haarlem (a team of the Netherlands). The match ended\\nwith 66 people dying while leaving the venue. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"May 28, 1985 - Violence\\nerupted amongst the fans of English giants Liverpool and Italian giants\\nJuventus after the 1985 European Cup Final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, 39\\npeople died.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/rapper-travis-scott-devastated-by-astroworld-festival-accident-427525/\\\">Rapper Travis Scott 'devastated' by Astroworld Festival accident</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"April 15, 1989 – As a\\nresult of overcrowding at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, 97\\npeople died while hundreds of others sustained injuries. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"July 2, 1990 – 1,426\\nMuslim Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia died in and around a tunnel leading from Mecca\\nto Mina during the annual hajj. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"November 23, 1994 – A\\npolitical protest in Nagpur became the victim of a panicked crush with 113\\npeople dead as a result. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"May 9, 2001 – The police\\nresorted to throwing tear gas in order to control a rowdy crowd at a stadium in\\nGhana’s capital Accra which killed more than 120 people. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"January 25, 2005 – 265\\nHindu pilgrims lost their lives near the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra\\nafter panic spread amongst the crowd.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/usa/8-dead-many-injured-at-astroworld-fest-in-texas-officials-598461/\\\">8 dead, many injured at Astroworld Fest in Texas: Officials</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"February 4, 2006 – A panicked\\ncrowd at the PhilSports Arena stampede in Manila, Philippines ended up killing 78\\npeople. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"July 4, 2010 – 21 people\\ndied and over 650 were injured at the Love Parade music festival in Duisburg,\\nGermany due to poor planning. A packed tunnel was the only access point to the\\nvenue. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"January 27, 2013 –\\nOver 200 people lost their lives in a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa\\nMaria, Brazil. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"September 24, 2015 –\\n2,411 pilgrims lost their lives while attending the hajj in Saudi Arabia\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Travis Scott's recent live performance ended up killing eight people in a panic</li>
 <li>Most of the incidents of stampede occur in music festivals, soccer stadiums and pilgrimages&nbsp;</li>
 <li>In 2015, over 2400 people lost thier lives while attending the hajj</li>
</ul>

A look at some of world's major crowd disasters in recent decades

Disaster

Public

Death

Injury

MusicFestival

Football

Bushra Shah, a 35-year-old <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/pakistan">Pakistani</a>, says she is realising a childhood dream by making the great pilgrimage to <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/mecca">Mecca</a>, and under new rules she's doing it without a male "guardian".,The <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/hajj">hajj</a> ministry has officially allowed women of all ages to make the pilgrimage without a male relative, known as a "mehrem", on the condition that they go in a group.,The decision is part of social reforms rolled out by de facto leader Crown Prince <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/mohammed-bin-salman">Mohammed bin Salman</a>, who is trying to shake off the kingdom's austere image and open up its oil-reliant economy.,Since his rise to power, women have been allowed to drive and to travel abroad without a male guardian -- even against a backdrop of a relentless crackdown against critics of his rule, including <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/womenempowerment">women's rights</a> activists.,"It's like a dream come true. My childhood dream was to make the hajj," Shah told AFP, before setting off from her home in Jeddah, the major port city in western <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>.,The hajj, one of the five pillars of <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/islam">Islam</a>, is a must for able-bodied Muslims with the means to do so at least once in their lifetime.,For the young mother, making the pilgrimage with her husband and child would have been a distraction that would have prevented her from "concentrating completely on the rites".,Shah is one of 60,000 pilgrims chosen to take part in this year's hajj, which has been dramatically scaled down for the second year running because of the <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/covid19">coronavirus</a> pandemic.,Only citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia, chosen in a lottery, are taking part. Officials have said that 40 percent of this year's pilgrims are women.,"Many women will also come with me. I am very proud that we are now independent and do not need a guardian," Shah said.,Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/pilgrims-ascend-mount-arafat-in-high-point-of-pandemic-era-hajj">Pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat in high point of pandemic-era hajj</a>,Her husband, Ali Murtada, said he "strongly encouraged" his wife to make the trip alone, after the government's decision to ban children from participating in the hajj this year.,He will stay in Jeddah to look after their child.,"We decided that one of us should go. Maybe she will be pregnant next year or maybe the children will still not be allowed to participate," the 38-year-old said.,It was unclear when the hajj ministry lifted the restriction, and some women have reported that travel agencies are still reluctant to accept women travelling without a male companion for the hajj.,Some even posted advertisements ruling out groups of unaccompanied women, in a sign of how the dizzying social changes are meeting some resistance in the deeply conservative kingdom.,Authorities previously required the presence of a male guardian for any woman pilgrim under the age of 45, preventing many Muslim women around the world from making the hajj.,That was the case for Marwa Shaker, an <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/egypt">Egyptian</a> woman living in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.,"Hajj without a guardian is a miracle," the 42-year-old, who works for a civil society organisation, told AFP.,Now travelling to Mecca with three of her friends, the mother of three had tried several times to make the pilgrimage before the pandemic. But she was unable to because her husband had already been and was not permitted to go again so soon.,"I feel enormously joyful. God has called me despite all the obstacles," she said.,For Sadaf Ghafoor, a British-Pakistani doctor, travelling without a male guardian was the "only option".,"We couldn't leave the children alone," the 40-year-old said of her three youngsters.,Her husband decided to stay behind, and Ghafoor headed to Mecca with a neighbour.,"It was not easy to take the decision to go alone... but we took this opportunity as a blessing," she said.

{\"time\":1626754744700,\"strCount\":4175,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Bushra Shah, a 35-year-old <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/pakistan/\\\">Pakistani</a>, says she is realising a childhood dream by making the great pilgrimage to <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/mecca/\\\">Mecca</a>, and under new rules she's doing it without a male \\\"guardian\\\".\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/hajj/\\\">hajj</a> ministry has officially allowed women of all ages to make the pilgrimage without a male relative, known as a \\\"mehrem\\\", on the condition that they go in a group.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The decision is part of social reforms rolled out by de facto leader Crown Prince <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/mohammedbinsalman/\\\">Mohammed bin Salman</a>, who is trying to shake off the kingdom's austere image and open up its oil-reliant economy.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Since his rise to power, women have been allowed to drive and to travel abroad without a male guardian -- even against a backdrop of a relentless crackdown against critics of his rule, including <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/womenempowerment/\\\">women's rights</a> activists.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"It's like a dream come true. My childhood dream was to make the hajj,\\\" Shah told AFP, before setting off from her home in Jeddah, the major port city in western <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/saudiarabia/\\\">Saudi Arabia</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The hajj, one of the five pillars of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/islam/\\\">Islam</a>, is a must for able-bodied Muslims with the means to do so at least once in their lifetime.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"For the young mother, making the pilgrimage with her husband and child would have been a distraction that would have prevented her from \\\"concentrating completely on the rites\\\".\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Shah is one of 60,000 pilgrims chosen to take part in this year's hajj, which has been dramatically scaled down for the second year running because of the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/covid19/\\\">coronavirus</a> pandemic.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Only citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia, chosen in a lottery, are taking part. Officials have said that 40 percent of this year's pilgrims are women.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Many women will also come with me. I am very proud that we are now independent and do not need a guardian,\\\" Shah said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/world/pilgrims-ascend-mount-arafat-in-high-point-of-pandemic-era-hajj-354541/\\\">Pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat in high point of pandemic-era hajj</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Her husband, Ali Murtada, said he \\\"strongly encouraged\\\" his wife to make the trip alone, after the government's decision to ban children from participating in the hajj this year.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"He will stay in Jeddah to look after their child.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"We decided that one of us should go. Maybe she will be pregnant next year or maybe the children will still not be allowed to participate,\\\" the 38-year-old said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"It was unclear when the hajj ministry lifted the restriction, and some women have reported that travel agencies are still reluctant to accept women travelling without a male companion for the hajj.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Some even posted advertisements ruling out groups of unaccompanied women, in a sign of how the dizzying social changes are meeting some resistance in the deeply conservative kingdom.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Authorities previously required the presence of a male guardian for any woman pilgrim under the age of 45, preventing many Muslim women around the world from making the hajj.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"That was the case for Marwa Shaker, an <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/egypt/\\\">Egyptian</a> woman living in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Hajj without a guardian is a miracle,\\\" the 42-year-old, who works for a civil society organisation, told AFP.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Now travelling to Mecca with three of her friends, the mother of three had tried several times to make the pilgrimage before the pandemic. But she was unable to because her husband had already been and was not permitted to go again so soon.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I feel enormously joyful. God has called me despite all the obstacles,\\\" she said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"For Sadaf Ghafoor, a British-Pakistani doctor, travelling without a male guardian was the \\\"only option\\\".\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"We couldn't leave the children alone,\\\" the 40-year-old said of her three youngsters.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Her husband decided to stay behind, and Ghafoor headed to Mecca with a neighbour.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"It was not easy to take the decision to go alone... but we took this opportunity as a blessing,\\\" she said.\"}}]}

Shubham Banerjee

<ul>
 <li>The hajj ministry has allowed women of all ages to make the pilgrimage without a male relative, known as a "mehrem"</li>
 <li>The decision is part of social reforms rolled out by de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman</li>
 <li>Officials have said that 40% of this year's pilgrims are women</li>
</ul>

In Mecca, women set off on hajj as 'guardian' rule cast aside

Religion

MohammedbinSalman

MiddleEast

Madina

WomenEmpowerment

GenderEquality

Asia

Muslim <a href="https://opoyi.com/pilgrims-stone-satan-in-last-major-rite-of-scaled-back-hajj?ref=share_post">pilgrims</a> ascended <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>'s Mount Arafat on Monday in the high point of this year's <a href="https://opoyi.com/saudi-arabia-stages-second-scaled-down-hajj-of-coronavirus-era?ref=share_post">hajj</a>, being held in downsized form and under coronavirus restrictions for the second year running.,Just 60,000 people, all citizens or residents of <a href="https://opoyi.com/saudi-arabia-limits-hajj-to-60000-people-no-overseas-pilgrims-this-year?ref=share_post">Saudi Arabia</a>, have been selected to take part in this year's hajj, with foreign pilgrims again barred.,The mask-clad faithful, who had spent the night in camps in the Valley of Mina, converged on Mount Arafat where it is believed the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon, for the most important of the hajj rituals.,Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/scaled-down-hajj-pilgrimage-to-start-july-29-saudi-officials?ref=share_post">Scaled-down hajj pilgrimage to start July 29: Saudi officials</a>,Worshippers will assemble on the 70-metre (230-foot) high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayers and Koran recitals to atone for their sins, staying there until the evening.,After sunset they head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they will sleep under the stars before performing the symbolic "stoning of the devil".,The scene was dramatically different to past pilgrimages, which have drawn up to 2.5 million people, and this year the mountain was free of the huge crowds that descend on it in normal years.,Being one of the lucky few "gives you a feeling that our God is forgiving and has chosen us to be in this place," said Selma Mohamed Hegazi, a 45-year-old Egyptian. "God willing, our prayers will be accepted.,"My whole body is shivering," she told AFP as she stood among the other emotional pilgrims, wearing the ihram, the traditional seamless white garment worn during the hajj.,Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/row-over-easing-of-covid-curbs-in-kerala-for-eid-sc-seeks-response">Kerala's easing of COVID curbs for Eid reaches top court, experts worried</a>,Worshippers described a sense of tranquility descending on the mountain, also known as the "Mount of Mercy".,"To be one of only 60,000 doing hajj ....I feel like I am part of a (privileged) group that was able to reach this place," said Baref Siraj, a 58-year-old Saudi national.,The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims with the means to travel at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.,Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy.,But barring overseas pilgrims has caused deep disappointment among Muslims worldwide, who typically save for years to take part.,Participants were chosen from more than 558,000 applicants through an online vetting system, with the event confined to fully vaccinated adults aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses.,Authorities are seeking to repeat last year's successful event which took place on the smallest scale in modern history with just 10,000 participants, but which saw no virus outbreak.,Saudi health authorities said Sunday that not a single Covid case had been reported amongst the pilgrims this year.,The kingdom has so far recorded more than 509,000 coronavirus infections, including over 8,000 deaths. Some 20 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country of over 34 million people.,The hajj, which typically packs large crowds into congested religious sites, could have been a super-spreader event for the virus.,But Saudi Arabia has said it is deploying the "highest levels of health precautions" in light of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants.,Pilgrims are being divided into groups of just 20 to restrict potential exposure, and a "smart hajj card" has been introduced to allow contact-free access to camps, hotels and the buses to ferry pilgrims around religious sites.,Black-and-white robots have been deployed to dispense bottles of sacred water from the Zamzam spring in Mecca's Grand Mosque, built around the Kaaba, the black cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.,Ibrahim Siam, a 64-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who comes from Dammam in the east of the country, said that high-tech procedures introduced to manage the hajj "have made things a lot easier."

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Some 20 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country of over 34 million people.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The hajj, which typically packs large crowds into congested religious sites, could have been a super-spreader event for the virus.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"But Saudi Arabia has said it is deploying the \\\"highest levels of health precautions\\\" in light of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Pilgrims are being divided into groups of just 20 to restrict potential exposure, and a \\\"smart hajj card\\\" has been introduced to allow contact-free access to camps, hotels and the buses to ferry pilgrims around religious sites.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Black-and-white robots have been deployed to dispense bottles of sacred water from the Zamzam spring in Mecca's Grand Mosque, built around the Kaaba, the black cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ibrahim Siam, a 64-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who comes from Dammam in the east of the country, said that high-tech procedures introduced to manage the hajj \\\"have made things a lot easier.\\\"\"}}]}

Priyadarshini Bishnoi

<ul>
 <li>Muslim pilgrims ascended Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat on Monday</li>
 <li>Just 60,000 people, all citizens or residents of <a href="https://opoyi.com/saudi-arabia-limits-hajj-to-60000-people-no-overseas-pilgrims-this-year?ref=share_post">S</a>audi Arabia, have been selected to take part in this year's hajj</li>
 <li>Worshippers will assemble on the 70-metre (230-foot) high hill</li>
</ul>

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