By IINA,
Makkah : More than one million pilgrims thronged the Haram Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and offered Taraweeh prayers yesterday night heralding the advent of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. In both the holy cities, all roads leading to the Harams were crowded even before sunset. Long queues of cars could be seen just after Asr and security personnel were kept busy in making arrangements to ease the traffic congestion. About a million people performed Taraweeh prayers in the Haram Mosque while the number of those offering Taraweeh at the Prophet’s Mosque was estimated at 300,000.
In Madinah, about 400 security personnel were deployed in the range of the Central Zone to facilitate the flow of pedestrians heading for the mosque. Madinah’s Director General of Traffic Col. Siraj Abdul Rahman Kamal, said over 100 traffic policemen successfully implemented the traffic plans at King Fahd Road, King Abdul Aziz Road and As-Salam Road. The Presidency of the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque is also working at its maximum capacity these days, as 1,400 employees are serving the mosque’s visitors. Over 1,000 cleaning workers are spread in the mosque to keep it neat and clean. About 120,000 sofras (tablecloths) of Iftar will be stretched along the Prophet’s Mosque for worshippers to break their fast, Saudi Gazette daily reported.
Meanwhile, The governor of Madinah Prince Majid bin Abdul Aziz has announced that the eastern square of the Prophet’s Mosque, which covers 30,500 square meters, is ready for prayers during Ramadan. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Prince Majid said the new square would accommodate more than 43,000 worshippers. The expansion projects ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz include the development of the eastern square as well as the installation of sunshades in the squares around the Holy Mosque. Prince Majid said that the opening of the eastern square for prayers would reduce crowding within the Holy Mosque, while making for a much more comfortable pilgrimage for visitors.
The governor said the government and the private sector remained committed to providing all necessary services to visitors in the eastern square. The new facilities at the square will includes a two-storey underground parking garage that can accommodate more than 380 vehicles and 44 escalators to help pilgrims gain access to the square from the garage. The project also includes 888 toilets, including those designed for physically challenged pilgrims. A total of 1,823 water faucets have also been provided to facilitate ablutions in the eastern square.