JABAR EKSPRES –The Sidoarjo Regency Government, East Java, has reminded elderly hajj candidates to maintain their health while performing worship in the Holy Land.
Sidoarjo Regent, Ahmad Muhdlor, on Wednesday (5/10), said this year as many as 2,300 hajj candidates from Sidoarjo will leave for the Holy Land.
“The weather in Mecca is predicted to reach 50 degrees Celsius during the pilgrimage. Therefore, prepare everything, such as bringing vitamins and maintaining a diet,” he said during the Mass Hajj Manasik Guidance held by the Sidoarjo Ministry of Religious Affairs, at the Rohmatul Ummah building, Sidoarjo.
He advised the elderly special hajj candidates to always obey the hajj officers who accompany them and asked the hajj officers to pay attention to the pilgrims.
“Hajj health workers are expected to be patient in providing health services to the pilgrims who are accompanied,” he said.
Gus Muhdlor, as he is familiarly called, said Sidoarjo is the district with the largest number of hajj candidates in East Java.
He said there are currently 85,580 Sidoarjo residents who have registered to go on Hajj and are waiting for the next 35 years.
“Sidoarjo is the district with the most hajj candidates because until today there are 85,580 Sidoarjo residents who have registered for hajj even though they are waiting for about 35 years,” he said.
Head of the Sidoarjo Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, Moh. Arwani said, that in this year’s hajj departure, there are elderly and reserve portions.
“The elderly portion is 34 people and 262 people are reserve portions. So, the total is 2,596,” he said.
He said that as of May 5, 2023, there were 1,992 hajj pilgrimage candidates who had paid the hajj pilgrimage travel fee (Bipih). The repayment was extended until May 12, 2023.
“Hopefully it can be fulfilled, for Sidoarjo is given a quota of 2,596 people and Alhamdulillah, yesterday again received an additional 147 reserve portions,” he said.
