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Arabia
Muslim Pilgrims Perform Hajj Stoning Ceremony
2006-12-31
More than two million Muslim pilgrims on the ritual journey known as Hajj are Saturday performing a ritual stoning ceremony in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
We'll keep you up to date on this year's stampede korpse kount as the figures come in...
Millions of people crowded into the holy site to throw small stones at walls called jamarat, as part of a ritual representing the symbolic stoning of the devil.
"Take that, Satan!... Ow!... Is he allowed to throw back?"
More than 360 worshippers died in a stampede during the stoning ritual a year ago.
About an average year. The average is 352 per year, if I recall correctly...
Saudi authorities have spent more than $1 billion renovating the site to make it safe.
And will milk that amount out of the rubes several times over...
The Hajj began Thursday under heavy security. The grueling ritual is a duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to make the trip. Each year pilgrims wearing white robes, symbolizing equality, converge on cheap motels at inflated rates Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia for five days of rituals, face-making, hollering, 3-card monte games, prayer and communion with fellow Muslims.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Fred: "Take that, Satan!... Ow!... Is he allowed to throw back?"

yep Satan is doing mighty fine red on red in Iraq.
Posted by: Iraqi Chewbacci   2006-12-31 16:00  

#5  And yeah, the top of that things does look like a swimming pool, an empty one. The magic of water chemistry seems to have somehow evaded them.
Posted by: Shipman   2006-12-31 15:32  

#4  ...will milk that amount out of the rubes several times over...

Gotta admire a scam that's still paying off after 1400 years.
Posted by: mojo   2006-12-31 12:19  

#3   Despite the inflated prices at cheap hotels, the Hajj is a money loser for Saudi Arabia.


Oh no. EVERYTHING is inflated. In fact even now with oil at near record levels the Saudis keep a close watch money they collect throgh the Hadj.

Piss poor countries like Bangla desh are fattenning the Saudis. Remember the 500 million $ who were given to Afganistan for reconstruction after the libertaion of Kabul? A
Posted by: JFM   2006-12-31 10:24  

#2  The jamarat had it coming for flashing its tits like that.
Posted by: Excalibur   2006-12-31 10:11  

#1  Despite the inflated prices at cheap hotels, the Hajj is a money loser for Saudi Arabia.

The visitors typically don't buy very much in the way of trinkets because Wahabi rules prohibit artistically embellished items. Of course the main problem is building infrastructure for a one time a year event.
Posted by: mhw   2006-12-31 10:03  

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