Hajj Yatra 2020 : Here is How and Why Hajj 2020 is different ?

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Hajj Yatra 2020 : How and Why different ?

Hajj Yatra is the first time since it began ruling Mecca about a century ago that Saudi Arabia has had to stop Muslim pilgrims from entering the country for the annual pilgrimage .
The Hajj pilgrimage - among the five pillars of the Islamic faith - is markedly different this year. After its start on Tuesday, few pilgrims were seen circling the Kaaba while following social distancing, as opposed to lakhs who occupy the place every year.
Because of the pandemic, the number of attending devotees has been drastically scaled down, from an estimated 25 lakh in 2019 to around 1000 locals and residents foreigners this year.
This is the first time since it began ruling Mecca about a century ago that Saudi Arabia has had to stop Muslim pilgrims from entering the country for the annual pilgrimage.
To keep Covid-19 infections at a minimum, the Saudi government has also enforced strict social distancing rules and employed contact tracing technology. It is covering all travel, accommodation, food, and healthcare expenses of the admitted pilgrims this year. The country has so far recorded over 2.7 lakh Covid-19 infections, and more than 2800 deaths.

Pilgrims at the Great Mosque of Mecca on Hajj

In Mecca, pilgrims had to go through four days of quarantine in their homes.
For contact tracing, Saudi authorities have given pilgrims wristbands that connect to their phones, thus being able to monitor their movement. After the end of the pilgrimage on Sunday, attendees will again be quarantined for a week.

Workers disinfect the ground outside the Grand Mosque, As part of the measures, pilgrims will be eating prepackaged meals alone in their hotel rooms, and consume holy water from the Zamzam well that has been packaged in plastic bottles.
They have also been given their own prayer rugs, and are provided special attire laced with silver nano technology that Saudi authorities say helps kill bacteria and makes clothes water resistant, the AP report said.

Pilgrims performing Tawaf around the Kaaba

Those who cannot afford the Hajj are sometimes financed by charities or community leaders. Others save their entire lives to make the journey.
Over 2 lakh from India had registered to travel for Hajj in 2020, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs in June announced a full refund of all money deposited by applicants.

makkah grand mosque kaaba aerial view