Media Release

Dammam, Sep 14: India Fraternity Forum (IFF) volunteers lent a helping hand for the Hajjis who came to Mina for holy rituals. Pilgrims, who came to Mina after spending a night in Muzdalifa, received assistance from India Fraternity Forum volunteers.

The volunteers, who came from different parts of Saudi Arabia, have been in the forefront in assisting the pilgrims. They carried out their duties in Mina in shifts. The pilgrims, who come straight from Muzdalifah to Jamrat to perform the stoning ritual, lose the way to their respective tents. Most of them develop fatigue as a result of walking long distances. The volunteers assist these pilgrims to their allotted tents. If needed, use wheelchairs to help the exhausted and sick Hajjis to reach their destination.

For comprehending the allotted tents location properly, they have developed a scientific route map – which they have achieved by surveying tents in Mina, days before Hajj. Additionally, all Mutawif number to tent mapping have been incorporated in the Hajj navigator app, which aided Hajjis further.

After performing the stoning ritual in Jamrat Alaqaba, the pilgrims then reached Masjid al Haram to perform Tawaf and Sa’ayee as part of Hajj duties. These pilgrims on their way back lose the way to their tents. Here too, volunteers’ guidance came as a relief for the Hajis.

Eventually, volunteers from different branches - especially from Makkah, who participated actively - stayed in nearby sites to support the pilgrims who moved on to Aziziyah. The volunteering group officials have stated that the volunteers will be actively assisting pilgrims till the day the rituals and activities in Mina come to an end.

A help desk has been setup by IFF in the temporarily arranged Indian Hajj Mission Office in Mina. Volunteers who can handle various languages have come forward to undertake this endeavor. Additionally, a special medical team has also been prepared.