By Hajaratu Kalokoh
The last set of a total of 900 hundred Muslim pilgrims expected to leave Sierra Leone for Saudi Arabia on Monday morning eventually left a little latter than scheduled.
The pilgrimage which is known as “Hajj” is part of a compulsory rite for Muslims, where they will visit Mecca, Medina and Mina to perform rituals, all in the next three weeks.
The Sierra Leonean pilgrims will join millions of other Muslims from all over the world to perform these rites.
This is the second batch of pilgrims that the Bio administration have seen through to Mecca. Two years ago the “Hajj” process was rocked by a serious scandal following allegations of corruption which left many of the Sierra Leonean pilgrims stranded at home and abroad.
Over the weekend, President Julius Maada Bio bade farewell to all 900 pilgrims at the National Stadium, urging them to remember the country in prayers.
“I am here to say goodbye and wish you good luck and I pray to Allah Subhana Wat’alla who has made it possible for this opportunity for a successful trip,” the president said, urging the would be pilgrims to pray for the country.
More than half of the pilgrims this year sponsored their own trip. the Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children Affairs, Baindu Dassama-Kamara told Politico that the government could not get more scholarship this year to facilitate the trip for many.
“We cannot give everybody because it depends on how we receive the scholarship from countries,” she said.
This year the government received only 100 scholarships from the United Arab Emirates, 40 from Dubai and Turkey. The rest of the scholarships had to be paid for by the government of Sierra Leone.
The cost of the Hajj trip per pilgrim is $5000.
The pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia is extremely difficult on pilgrims, especially on those from Africa. They contend with challenges like the weather condition, the struggle through the crowd and the delicacy of food.
Last year at least two Sierra Leonean pilgrims died, though it is not clear whether their deaths were directly linked to those difficulties.
The Minister said these are problems that they are prepared for. For the first time the country will have its own village during the pilgrimage, she said, noting that this also means they will provide local dishes for pilgrims who will prefer it.
“‘There are four doctors, three nurses, and one pharmacist, and we have medical services as well on the ground. There were challenges last year but this is the second year and I have seen all of the challenges firsthand,” she said.
“This year, we will not be combining with other nationalities. We have our own small village where we will have local foods like Cassava leaf,” she said.
For the pilgrims, they are just excited about the opportunity to perform the pilgrimage in their lifetime. Before their departure, the Hajj committee put them through days of sensitization.
Kadiatu Lebbie-Sillah, an elderly women, told Politico before her departure about how much difference that will make to her.
“I thank God for the opportunity especially the sensitization we have received on the processes during the pilgrimage. This will surely make things easier for us,” she said.
The pilgrims will spend Eid Adha, a popular Islamic festivity associated with the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia. The first batch of pilgrims are expected to return to Sierra Leone on September 2nd..
© 2019 Politico Online
