TIMESINDONESIA, MEDINA – The Hajj Pilgrimage Organizing Officer (PPIH) for Makkah (Daker) work area arrived in the hometown of Prophet Muhammad SAW on 27th March 2023.
“They immediately took up their respective positions to welcome the Indonesian pilgrims,” PPIH Saudi Arabia 1444 H/2023 M Chief Subhan Cholid explained in Jeddah on Sunday (28/5/2023).
Subhan Cholid explained that Makkah Daker officers left in three waves. A total of 272 officers landed on March 27, 2023, around 6 p.m. KSA time. Previously, 154 health workers landed earlier, at 4:05 p.m. WS. While another 210 officers are due to land today at 5:30 p.m. WS.
Subhan accompanied the arrival of the officers at the Jeddah pilgrimage terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAAIA). Also present were Consul Haj at the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah Nasrullah Jasam and Kadaker Makkah Khalilurrahman.
“Officers immediately took up their duty posts, both in Daker and in the area, to prepare to welcome and serve the congregation,” Subhan said.
For information, Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia since May 24, 2023. The pilgrims who left in the first batch landed in Medina. They stayed for about nine days to undergo Arbain (congregational prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque for 40 times).
To date, 59 groups with 22,665 pilgrims have visited Medina Al-Munawarah.
“Gradually, they will depart from Medina for Makkah, starting from June 2, 2023,” Subhan explained.
Besides Medina, the city of Mecca will also welcome Indonesian pilgrims at the start of the second batch. They will start landing at the KAAIA Hajj terminal in Jeddah from June 8 to June 22, 2023.
“So from June 8, Daker Makkah will receive the arrival of Indonesian pilgrims from Medina and Jeddah,” Subhan said.
“PPIH has prepared 108 hotels and, God willing, all are ready to accommodate the congregation,” he continued.
The congregational hotels are spread over five areas, namely: Mahbas Jin, Raudhah, Jarwal, Misfalah and Syisyah. The shortest distance from the hotel to Masjid Al Haram is around 850 meters at Jarwal. While the furthest distance is around 4,339 meters at Syisyah.
In Makkah, Subhan said, the congregation will receive three meals a day. The menu of dishes is prepared with a taste of the archipelago. Some of the spices are imported from Indonesia, including cooks.
PPIH Saudi Arabia will also prepare a Shalawat bus to take the congregation to the Grand Mosque, there and back.
“The Shalawat bus will operate from the first arrival of the congregation in Makkah and will operate 24 hours a day,” he said.
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