Scaled-down Hajj begins in Saudi Arabia
The Hindu
Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Mecca and into the Mina valley on Sunday, launching the great pilgrimage, which Saudi Arabia is holding in a scaled-down form for a second year.Since Sat
Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Mecca and into the Mina valley on Sunday, launching the great pilgrimage, which Saudi Arabia is holding in a scaled-down form for a second year. Since Saturday, pilgrims have been performing the “tawaf” at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, circling the Kaaba, a large cubic structure draped in golden-embroidered black cloth towards which Muslims around the world pray. Participants were chosen from more than 5,58,000 applicants through an online vetting system, with the event confined to fully vaccinated adults aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.