Haj Media Award deadlines announced

The Haj Media Award jury, led by Secretary General, Suliman bin Awad Al-Zaidi, has announced a deadline of 29/8/1437 (Islamic calendar; corresponds to June 6, 2016) for nominated submissions by individuals, groups, and organisations for the Haj Media Award for Hajj 1436, the season of 2015. The award ceremony has the proposed period of the first half of Dhu al-Qa'dah 1437 (August 5 to 19, 2016). The decisions were made by His Highness the KSA Minister of Haj, Dr Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar, head of the award committee. 

The Haj Media Award aims to diversify media products, and to promote quality content, as well as encourage writers and media professionals to keep pace with the specific services provided every year to Hajj pilgrims. On a higher level, the award aims to achieve the aspirations and the policy of the Saudi government, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Deputy Crown Prince.

Awards will be given out for the best comprehensive media coverage of Hajj activities among press reports, interviews, reports, surveys, documentary programmes, visual programmes, opinion articles, seminars, photographs, and caricatures across print, visual, audio, and electronic media. Submissions are to be judged on whether they promote the humanitarian and cultural values; support justice, transparency, trust, commitment, and distinction; and enhance the creativity of media professionals and of writers; so as to add to the Hajj system, and to highlight specialised Hajj media. 

His Highness' directions have been for the jury to include prominent figures from outside the ministry: Shura council (Majlis as-Shura) members, media practitioners, and specialised academics among them in order to increase transparency, and to improve the process through professional ideas. The jury now includes Dr Sadaqa Yehia Fadel from the Shura Council, Mohammed Al-Mokhtar Al-Fal, a member of the media, Dr Mohammed bin Ali Hendia, Dr Anmar bin Hamed Motawi', and Dr Samir Habeeb Bakhesh.

The Secretary General hopes that media professionals, writers, and media organisations will be motivated by the award to conduct in-depth research; create an environment of positive interaction between the system and the media, and to utilise new ideas broadcast in the media during Hajj coverage. 

Source: Ministry of Haj, KSA.

Interested?

Media organisations, writers, and journalists may submit works published or broadcast during Hajj 1436. These works must be authentic, in accordance with the award standards, and produced by the applying organisation, person, or group. The submitted work must not have been previously submitted for other awards. Contact the Ministry of Haj for details

Haj Committee of India updates list of pilgrims affected in Mina stampede

The Haj Committee of India, which is part of the Ministry of External Affairs, has issued its third update of pilgrims who passed away in the Mina stampede in KSA. As of 26 September the death toll for India is 22 as shared by the Consul General of India in Jeddah.

The lists may be viewed here (25 September, including a list of the injured), here (26 September) and here (26 September).

Twelve Hajj pilgrims from India passed away due to the crane accident in Makkah on 11 September, with one reported missing, the Committee said.

Call 24x7 helplines in India at 22 2271 7100, 7101 and 7102 with enquiries.

Qatar announces dates for Eid Al Adha holiday

The Emiri Diwan has announced that the Eid al-Adha holiday will begin on Wednesday September 23, 2015 for ministries. Government employees would report back to work on Wednesday September 30, the Qatar News Agency has reported.

The Diwan noted that for Qatar Central Bank (QCB), banks, QCB-supervised financial institutions and Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), the Governor of QCB will determine the start date of the holiday.

KSA's MOH calls for vaccination of senior officials

KSA's Ministry of Health (MOH) has led a drive to vaccinate senior officials against meningitis and flu ahead of the Hajj season.

The initiative, led by His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Health for Therapeutic Services, Dr. Tarif Al-‘Ama, saw senior officials take anti-meningitis and anti-flu vaccines in early September. Dr Tarif called upon all MOH employees participating in the Hajj season to be vaccinated to prevent against disease. He also said that the vaccines are available and safe.

Those who have been vaccinated include the Assistant Deputy Minister for Hospitals Affairs, Dr Nahar Al-‘Azmi, the Supervisor General of Home Medicine, Dr Ali Maqboul Al-Ghamdi, the Director General of Specialized Centers and Visiting Physicians, Dr Abdullah Al-Wad‘i, and the Director General of Radiology and Applied Services, Dr Ali Al-Musned.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog posts about the MOH's preparations for the Hajj here and here

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health gives overview of preparations for medical support at Hajj 2015

The Director General of Hospitals and Chairman of the Hajj Technical Supervising Committee, Dr Abdul Aziz bin Hamid Al-Ghamdi, said that the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia continues to prepare for a safe Hajj and pilgrims' well-being during this year’s Hajj season.

The MOH is ready to provide pilgrims with high-quality preventive, therapeutic and ambulance services through the health facilities scattered over the different areas of the Kingdom, since the pilgrims’ entry into the Kingdom, passing by all roads they take to perform Hajj rituals, in addition to the Hajj sites and Madinah and until their departure for their countries.

Dr Al-Ghamdi stated in a press conference that the MOH has prepared 25 hospitals, with a total capacity of 5,250 beds (4,200 clinical beds, 500 intensive care [IC] beds, and 550 emergency beds) covering all Hajj areas, including seven hospitals in Makkah to provide health services for visitors and patients, four in Mina, four in Arafat, and nine in Madinah. These are in addition to King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, which is used by the Ministry to provide specialised services within its lifesaving programme to reduce mortality rates amongst pilgrims.

Dr Al-Ghamdi added that the above-mentioned hospitals are further supported by 155 permanent and seasonal primary healthcare centres, disseminated throughout the Hajj sites as follows: 43 in Makkah, 78 in the Holy Sites*, 16 emergency centres in the Jamaraat Bridge (Jisr al-Jamart), and 18 health centres in Madinah. They are used to serve the pilgrims and the visitors of Madinah and all Hajj areas and main roads leading to them.

Dr Al-Ghamdi noted that the committee has coordinated with the Manpower Committee to distribute additional manpower, including physicians, nursing and administrative staff, to the hospitals and health centres operating during the Hajj. He added that six advanced teams and three mini teams were formed for the treatment of burn and injury cases in Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites, whilst coordination was made with the Visiting Manpower Committee to recruit consultants in the following specialties: neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, plastic surgery and vascular surgery.

Regarding the MOH preparations to treat cases of sunstroke and heat stress, he explained that 208 spray fans were secured in Makkah and 96 in Madinah, in anticipation of the expected high temperature during the Hajj season. Special rooms have also been prepared for these fans to ensure drainage of spray water.

Further, Dr Al-Ghamdi said that the committee has set work policies and procedures on how to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke that will be published on the Ministry's Portal. Additionally, he revealed coordination with the World Health Organization and the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publish these policies and procedures on their websites, as well as designing and printing awareness brochures in Arabic and English to be distributed to pilgrims’ gathering areas (ports, the main roads leading to the Holy Sites) via luminous billboards.

Dr Al-Ghamdi additionally indicated that the Ministry has organised nine training courses to raise awareness of health cadres regarding the treatment of cases of sunstroke and heat stress, including a training course for the directors of hospitals of Makkah, the Holy Sites and Madinah, in addition to the heads of medical sections and physicians working in these hospitals.

“This training course was organised in Madinah on Dhul-Qa'dah 4th, 1436H (20 August 2015),” he said, adding that coordination and preparations are currently underway to organise a similar training course in Al-Nour Specialized Hospital in Makkah on Monday Dhul-Qa'dah 16, 1436 H (31 August 2015), as well as eight training courses to be organised on Dhul Hijjah 2 to 5 (mid September 2015) targeting the workers in the Holy Sites’ hospitals, in addition to a training course targeting the physicians and workers in the health centers in the Holy Sites.

Dr Al-Ghamdi said that the ministry has revised and printed the manual of health practitioners during the Hajj season, which contains the common diseases in Hajj and the cases expected to be received based on the MOH’s past experience.

*More about the Holy Sites

Geylang Serai Hari Raya bazaar full of festive cheer

The Geylang Serai lightup adds to the atmosphere.

The annual Geylang Serai Hari Raya bazaar is held throughout the month of Ramadhan in Singapore, and tends to draw crowds who shop for Eid and break their fast with traditional fair foods such as Ramly burgers and vadai.

The bazaar is the largest of its kind in Singapore, and is traditionally filled not only with stalls selling cooked food for breaking fast, but also henna artists, snacks for entertaining during Eid, as well as clothing and home decor - furniture, lamps, calligraphy, cushions and curtains.

Decorative cushions with a 'jewel' in the middle were going for about S$13 each.

Curtainland opposite the One KM Mall.

Khat in the kufic and tughra styles at this decal stall.

Khat in the sini style which is rare here. Sini is more ribbon-like. The calligraphy was mounted on silk as is traditional for Chinese brush artwork or paired with Chinese paintings. They also had framed khat on porcelain which you can see in the background. 

The 2015 crowd seemed a bit sparser than usual for a Saturday, even after sunset. While there were queues for the food, some stalls were practically deserted and there were even empty spaces where stalls had not been taken up. To be fair this was the last weekend before the school holidays ended, so families may have wanted to stay home.

The queues grew longer for the food after sunset.

Nevertheless, there is still a lot to see and sample.

This Muar sugarcane stall was quite popular.

The bright orange Thai iced tea had made a name for itself - I heard visitors saying they had to try it, and a queue had already formed by late afternoon. They already have a news article on them (framed, bottom left). The iced tea is S$3. They also had a Nutella milkshake for sale, hence the jars of Nutella in the foreground.

El 'Arabi is next to the Thai iced tea stall and along the road (Sims Drive), so quite easy to get to. It also attracted a long queue from late afternoon. The shawarma costs S$3. 

Another view of El 'Arabi, this time after sunset. The queue continues, though it had stopped for the Thai iced tea.

The buns for Ramly burgers are spread with margarine and toasted on the grill.

Ramly burgers are a mainstay at bazaars. This is mass production in action.

Deep fried vadai are another traditional favourite. There were queues outside this stall as well.

The Happy Rollies stall was doing a brisk business after sunset compared to the churros stall next to it. It claims to have savoury rolls of fried ice cream. The actual dish looked more like curls of normal ice cream. I couldn't get a good picture of it though.

Freshly grilled dendeng sitting in its own juices. S$5 for 100g. Dendeng is the halal version of bak kwa, an Asian form of meat jerky.

Drinks of different flavours on sale, from S$1 and upwards. Fruit punch, mango and lemon are featured here, with bird's nest just beyond.

Several stalls focused on home-made cookies and snacks for entertainment during Eid. Many offer samples.

Snacks were typically three for S$10 but a box of cookies like this would range from S$8 for a small jar to S$25 for the more elaborate ones. Makmur at 6 o'clock, cat's tongues in rainbow colours at 9 o'clock.

Marjan brand rose syrup on the left, and strawberry syrup with milk on the right. To be mixed for festive drinks at Eid rather than for breaking fast.

Clothing stalls are very common, mostly for the ladies, but also for men and children.

Headgear of all kinds from as low as three for S$5. These near the MRT station are S$5 but generally they averaged S$10 each.

These hangers are designed for separating scarves. S$6.90.

Black velvet songkoks for the guys, complete with rhinestone brooches, and sampin with designs picked out in gold and silver thread. These are part of the baju Melayu traditional costume.

Leather slippers for children and adults.

Then there were the quirky types:

Posters painted on wooden boards.

Emoji stuffed toys, anyone?

And in keeping with the spirit of Ramadhan, there were donation boxes for worthy causes.

A donation box for a mosque building fund, this one for Khadijah Mosque which is in Geylang.

Interested?

Get to the bazaar from Paya Lebar MRT station. Turn right once out of the Paya Lebar Square exit, and cross the road at the traffic lights, which are not working as this road has been closed. The bazaar is on the right. There is a smaller bazaar linked to the SingPost mall on the left.

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about Hungrygowhere's review of the food at the bazaar last year.

Buy at Home Centre during Ramadhan and save with vouchers

Source: Home Centre website.

Home Centre is offering Ramadhan gift vouchers* with a minimum sum spent on purchases.

The Ramadan Gift Voucher Promotion in the UAE involves getting a voucher worth AED1,000 for every AED3,000 spent. The offer is valid in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, and expires 15 August.

In Bahrain, BHD10 vouchers will be given out for every BHD35 spent, while in Oman RO10 vouchers are gifted for every RO35 spent. The Kuwait arrangement is similar, with KD10 vouchers offered for every KD35 spent. The Bahrain offer is honoured at the Manama and Riffa outlets, while the Omani branches in Muscat, Sohar and Salalah are running the voucher promotion. In Kuwait, the promotion is running in Al Rai, Fahaheel, Kuwait City and Shuwaikh. Vouchers expire 18 July.

Source: Home Centre website.
The offer for UAE.

For Jordan, the vouchers of JD10 are handed out for every JD50 spent. The offer is valid in Amman, and vouchers also expire 18 July.

Home Centre has also launched its Ramadan Catalog 2015**.

Interested?

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in Bahrain

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in KSA

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in Kuwait

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in Oman

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in Qatar

View the Ramadan Catalog 2015 in UAE

*KSA does not have a voucher promotion for Ramadhan

**Jordan does not have a Ramadan Catalog.

Ramadhan Kareem

Qatar sets ceilings for 400 food commodity prices till end of Ramadhan

Qatar's Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani has issued a decree setting the maximum price for 400 food commodities starting Sha'aban 24, 1436 (11 June 2015) until the end of Ramadhan 1436.

Over the past five years, HE said, the ministry issued similar decisions in order to ease the burden of extra costs on consumers. He stressed the importance of community participation in reporting any violations of the decision, adding that the ministry will beef up its efforts to monitor the prices and availability of foodstuffs and take the necessary measures to protect consumers, combat commercial fraud, protect competition and prevent monopolistic practices.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim urged everyone to work together to adhere to provisions of the decision that included a list of 400 commodities and their maximum prices. Products covered by the decree include flour, sugar, rice, pasta, wheat, oil and milk.

Haj Committee of India shares don'ts for 2015 Hajj

The Haj Committee of India - whose website now has a .gov.in suffix - has recently released a number of circulars around the Hajj.

The committee has shared that items which are not allowed into Saudi Arabia include include khash-khash (poppy seeds), Viagra tablets, Cystone, a treatment for kidney stones; gutkha, a flavoured preparation that consists mainly of betel nut and tobacco; and Khaini, a type of chewing tobacco. Narcotics in any form, political literature, photographs, and all pornographic materials are also banned. The penalty for importing banned items can include life imprisonment and the death penalty.

The committee also translated a circular in Arabic from the Ministry of Hajj, Saudi Arabia, regarding activities that distract pilgrims from the focus of the Hajj, into English. According to the circular, Hajj Committees are requested to impress on pilgrims that they are to avoid propagandistic activities, distribution of printed or electronic materials and gatherings, or face the consequences of the law for the violations. 

The Haj Committee of India further announced that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the only body authorised by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform qurbani for Hajj pilgrims, has reduced the charges from  SR490 to SR475. As such, SR469 per pilgrim will be collected towards qurbani by the Haj Committee of India for Hajj 2015.

Need context?

Wikipedia entry on qurbani
Waiting list for Hajj 2015
Practical tips for Hajj (videos)
Full list of banned items

Muis lists approved Hajj travel agents and travel packages for 2015

Majilis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis), the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, has appointed five individual travel agents and six consortium travel agents to offer Hajj packages for Hajj 1436 (2015). 

All packages were proposed through the Offers of Haj Package 1436H / 2015 tender, which was open from 11 March to 31 March 2015. The signing of the Haj Package Agreement 1436H / 2015 between Muis and the appointed agencies was held on 12 May 2015 at the Singapore Islamic Hub. 

A total of 27 Hajj packages are available to pilgrims this year. Ten Hajj packages ranging from 15 to 25 days, defined as the short trip, and 17 Hajj packages provide 29 to 37 days (long trip). Prices range from S$6,990 to S$14,890. All packages include emergency medical assistance but exclude airfare and prevailing taxes. 

Muis advises intending pilgrims to evaluate packages carefully based on their needs and affordability. They are strongly advised to read and understand the contents of the Haj Purchase Contract and the agencies have been requested to explain the contract to intending pilgrims before they are asked to sign it. 

Next steps?

View the list of appointed individual and consortium agencies (scroll to the middle)
See approved packages (scroll to the end)

Pakistan puts 2015 Government Hajj Scheme in motion

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Pakistan has made ballot results for the Government Hajj Scheme available online and also with authorised banks. Applicants are being informed of their success or failure via SMS as well, the ministry said.

Public sector organisations have until 1 June to nominate their employees from lower salary scales for Hajj under corporate social responsibility programmes. The nominations will be considered on a case by case basis, and Hajj expenses and dues must be borne by the organisation through funds that are not provided by the government.

The ministry called for submission of Hajj application forms under the scheme from 27 April to 8 May. The following banks are authorised to deal with Hajj applications under the Government Hajj Scheme for Hajj 2015: 

Habib Bank

United Bank 

National Bank of Pakistan

Muslim Commercial Bank 

Allied Bank of Pakistan

Zarai Taraqiati Bank 

Bank of Punjab

Meezan Bank

Bank Al-Falah and 

Habib Metropolitan Bank.

According to the ministry, Hajj dues for the North Region (Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad and RY Khan) are Rs264,971 for adults, and Rs11,460 for infants born after 9 November 2013 who are accompanying their parents. Hajj dues for the South Region (Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur) are Rs255,971 and Rs10,560 for infants. Opting for qurbani through government arrangements costs an additional Rs14,210.

Need background?

Check Hajj application status
Hajj Policy 2015
View a breakdown of how charges are calculated for infants

Read the Wikipedia definition of qurbani

Bangladesh ambassador holds talks on Hajj with Minister of Hajj, KSA

Source: Ministry of Hajj, KSA. HH the Minister of Hajj, Dr Bandar.

His Highness the Minister of Hajj, Dr Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, met His Excellency the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom, Golam Moshi, on 16 March. 

During the meeting, issues relevant to the affairs of the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims for 1436 were discussed. His Excellency the Ambassador praised the efforts exerted and the projects which have been accomplished in the Two Holy Mosques and at the Sacred Sites and praised the efficient coordination and collaboration between the Ministry of Hajj, the agencies affiliated to it, other governmental agencies, and all the offices of Hajj affairs.  

Muis starts recruitment exercise for Singaporean Pilgrims Affairs Office for 1436 Hajj

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is calling for volunteers for the medical and administrative team in the Singaporean Pilgrims Affairs Office (SPAO) that it sends to support Singaporean pilgrims for the 1436H Hajj. 

The team will comprise doctors, nurses and assistant pilgrim officers to provide medical and welfare services to Singaporean pilgrims. For Hajj 1436H/2015, SPAO will operate in the holy cities from early September to late October 2015. 

The following are eligibility criteria for each post:

Honorary Medical Officers 
 Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) 
 Registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) 
 Involvement in voluntary organisation / community work preferred 
 Has knowledge in manasik (rituals) of Hajj 

Honorary Nursing Officers 
 State Registered Nurse (SRN) Certificate 
 Paramedics holding SRN Certificate may also apply 
 Singapore citizen 
 Involvement in voluntary organisation / community work preferred 
 Has knowledge in manasik (rituals) of Hajj 

Honorary Assistant Pilgrim Officers 
 Minimum five GCE ‘O’ Level passes with experience in administration, management and logistics 
 Singapore citizen 
 Has performed Hajj as a pilgrim 
 Involvement in voluntary organisation / community work preferred 
 Competent in application software (eg, Microsoft Office) 
 Physically fit 

The deadline for submissions is Friday, 20 March at 5pm. Submission forms are available online here.

Over 300,000 pilgrims participated in umrah for 1436 to date

According to the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia, 318,080 mu'tamirs, or pilgrims involved in the 'umrah pilgrimage, have participated in 1436 'umrah season. The figure is correct as of midnight of the 29th of the hijri month of Safar, which corresponds to 21 December 2014.

Umrah season for 1436 launched

His Highness the Minister of Hajj, Dr Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, announced the launch of the 1436 umrah season on 27 November.

The umrah E-Track Program received the first group of the applications for umrah visas at the beginning of the month of Safar, in late November, and the first groups of mu`tamirs arrived a few days after.

This follows a successful e-track during the 1435 umrah season, during which KSA hosted a record 6,051,000 international mu`tamirs. The e-track was complemented by projects to increase the capacity of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrim accommodations. 

The Ministry of Hajj also announced a bylaw on the regulation of services for mu`tamirs (umrah pilgrims). His Highness referred to a set of new rules which has been announced by the Ministry for the licensed companies inside and outside the Kingdom. These rules have been laid down in order to control the procedures for umrah, improve the level of the services, and preserve mu`tamir rights. 

Among these rules are those relevant to the issuance of visas, the service packages, the work of the external agents, the qualification and training of the human resources, surveillance systems, and the preparation of offices for companies. The rules will also control the mechanism of the evaluation of the licensed companies in the Kingdom and their agents in the mu`tamirs’ countries, as well as the mechanism of the arrival of the mu`tamirs who travel from the countries in which there are no external agents. 

His Highness also referred to the global electronic umrah network which has been established by the Ministry of Hajj in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to facilitate the umrah process for international mu`tamirs. The network provides a mechanism for umrah in countries where there are no contractors or external agents.

Read the blog post about the E-Track Program here.

Maal Hijrah/Awal Muharram