Various pilgrims from five countries opted to remain in Makkah much longer than others who joined the Hajj pilgrimage—staying for as long as four weeks after the rituals.
In a report by Saudi Gazette, pilgrims from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran were found to have not moved out of Makkah for almost a month as they opted to go for more sightseeing and shopping for loved ones back home.
The government has allowed the participants to move outside the areas to the Two Holy Mosques in its bid to boost tourism in the kingdom. And while many chose to visit other cities after the pilgrimage like Taif and Jeddah, pilgrims from these five countries opted to stay in Makkah before departing.
“Why waste time. We should be devoting all our time to pray and supplicate in the Grand Mosque. Who knows whether we are going to come back here again or not,” Saudi Gazzete quoted Barakat Amin, one of the pilgrims, as saying.
Makkah is one of the major destinations for Hajj pilgrimage, with many Muslims from all over the world visiting it yearly to perform all obligatory prayers.
