Hajj Pilgrimage - 1,300 Die in Heat
Discussion
Blackpuddin said:
The Saudi authorities know that and should provide for it accordingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=du...I do find religion weird, that people get hooked on a sky fairy and then claim theirs is the best.
This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
Glassman said:
If only there was something in nature that had a central column with a large canopy on the top that provides natural shade and oxygen.They even do variations that can survive in hot/dry climates.
Tom8 said:
I do find religion weird, that people get hooked on a sky fairy and then claim theirs is the best.
This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
Religion is the opium of the people...This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
ChocolateFrog said:
Glassman said:
If only there was something in nature that had a central column with a large canopy on the top that provides natural shade and oxygen.They even do variations that can survive in hot/dry climates.
zetec said:
Sad.
Can anyone imagine this sort of event happening in this country? I know Saudi is much larger and hotter, but the red tape to push this through here would be endless. Look at the organisation for the London Marathon for example.
Its pretty much what does happen here, except the 'event' is simply trying to reach this country. We have legal ways to enter the country, yet desparate people give money to crooks to come here on small boats, and some of them drown in the process. Can anyone imagine this sort of event happening in this country? I know Saudi is much larger and hotter, but the red tape to push this through here would be endless. Look at the organisation for the London Marathon for example.
zetec said:
Sad.
Can anyone imagine this sort of event happening in this country? I know Saudi is much larger and hotter, but the red tape to push this through here would be endless. Look at the organisation for the London Marathon for example.
People do die during the London marathon though.Can anyone imagine this sort of event happening in this country? I know Saudi is much larger and hotter, but the red tape to push this through here would be endless. Look at the organisation for the London Marathon for example.
Tom8 said:
I do find religion weird, that people get hooked on a sky fairy and then claim theirs is the best.
This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
I do wonder if they look at the deaths as being ' Gods will'?This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
Four Litre said:
Tom8 said:
I do find religion weird, that people get hooked on a sky fairy and then claim theirs is the best.
This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
I do wonder if they look at the deaths as being ' Gods will'?This pilgrimage business is exactly that - business. I went through Lourdes a couple of years ago so we stopped to see what it was like. Being France I thought it would be quite understated and serene, but was shocked. Think Blackpool with churches rather than a tower.
What I found worse was the people there hoping for some sort of miracle to cure them, some genuinely ill looking people hoping this magic will happen, probably just next to the gift shop that sells the fancy crosses. Huge exploitation. It was really grim.
Stick Legs said:
Inshallah.
Yertis said:
Yes. Having visited Jeddah during (but not for) Hajj I can’t imagine what else they could do to prevent this kind of thing. The crowds are huge. There was talk of building a new rail link from Jeddah up to Mecca (Makkah) but I’ve not heard if that went anywhere.
Buying a Stairway to Heaven...? I read an article about this the other day. A lot of people who go are elderly, because they've saved for most of their lives to go to Hajj. It is also supposedly an honour almost to pass away at Hajj in the 'holy site' and those that do are given a funeral/burial at the Saudi's expense and could be buried, albeit in mass graves in one of the holy areas.
irc said:
s1962a said:
Four Litre said:
I do wonder if they look at the deaths as being ' Gods will'?
Yes, they do. Apparently it's a big honour to die that way.1.8 million people including a significant proportion of people at the end of their lives (health/age etc) and 1300 of them die puts a slightly different slant on the story. The Hajj only happens annually and only for about a week each time, and every Muslim is supposed to do it once in their life.
I've been looking at what exists for people on the Hajj.
The temporary tents the majority of pilgrims stay in at mina (capacity is about 2 million) were built to order by German company SL Rasch (https://www.sl-rasch.com/en/projects/hi-tech-tent-city/), the tents are not permanently erected (they fold them down with the sides under the roof when not in use), but they are air conditioned.
How they are fitted out inside varies, but for most you sleep on a mat on the floor with your pillow next to other pilgrims, so it's not luxury, but it is safe - a bit like emergency digs you'd see in a natural disaster or similar.
Tent city from the air:
Air-con units, roofs:
Inside:
Of course, pilgrims still need to move around outside.
Mecca also has some spectacular hotels - there are many 5* hotels surrounding the Kaaba (the stone building in the middle of Mecca that Muslims face towards when praying).
Most of the buildings behind the mosque here are hotels including stuff like the Intercontinental, Hilton, Swissotel, etc.
croyde said:
The couple that the article talks about paid a fortune to some shyster touring company.
I'd bet that there are loads of people making money out of this
What a way to go and so utterly pointless.
My dad was involved in running the maintenance side of a Hajj operation for Chief Kabo's Kabo Air in Nigeria using 747s. Some of the stories he has are incredible. Getting shot at when their driver went straight through a check point due to the driver being out his nut chewing khat all day to stay awake for the long driving shifts. Armed escort to and from work, dead bodies floating in moat outside hotel and living on tough goat meat in some of the more interesting areas in Nigeria. Flying once on the national airline at the time between the north and south having to listen to a high pitched whistle the entire flight because the door seal on the aircraft was bust and constantly leaking pressure.I'd bet that there are loads of people making money out of this
What a way to go and so utterly pointless.
On the flight out the passengers only required one aircraft. Same passengers on the way back required an extra aircraft just for cargo, many used the pilgrimage as a shopping trip along with gallons of zam zam water. Pretty sure it wouldn't be possible to visit some of the places he worked there these days, Maiduguri being one. He did make a pile of money doing it.
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