Indonesian Pilgrim Recounts 60 Years Of Spiritual Journeys To Makkah

In 1964, a six-year-old Indonesian girl named Maryam Muhammad Munir embarked on her first journey to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj with her family. Since then, she has visited the Kingdom 22 more times for both Umrah and Hajj. At the Makkah Route Initiative hall in Surabaya Airport, Maryam shared her experiences and memories from these trips.

Maryam recounted that 60 years ago, her family's initial pilgrimage was a costly endeavour. They travelled by a primitive ship that took between five to eight months to reach Saudi Arabia. The voyage began at the port of Jakarta, passing through India, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea before finally arriving at Jeddah. The journey was fraught with dangers and challenges, but her family's commitment to fulfilling their religious duty gave them the strength to persevere.

She also described the traditions of Indonesian pilgrims in the past. Before setting off, pilgrims would gather in Jakarta to bid farewell to their families. Upon returning from Hajj, they were warmly welcomed with various gifts, celebrating their safe return and the completion of their religious journey.

Maryam noted that with current advancements, travelling to Makkah has become significantly easier. This progress has led to an increasing number of pilgrims visiting the holy city. She expressed her gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their continuous efforts in serving pilgrims from around the world, ensuring they can perform Umrah and Hajj with ease and comfort.

--SPA 12:22 Local Time 09:22 GMT 0014

With inputs from SPA