SURABAYA: An Indonesian woman shared her experiences of a five to eight months-long ship voyage to perform Hajj in the 1960s.

Maryam Muhammad Munir told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that in 1964, when she was 6, she travelled to Saudi Arabia for the first time to perform Hajj with her family. Since then, she has come 22 more times to the Kingdom to perform Umrah and Hajj.

In the Makkah Route Initiative hall at Surabaya Airport, Maryam reminisced about the memories and experiences during her 22 trips. Sixty years ago, her family’s first trip to perform Hajj was costly and came by ship of primitive build that would take five to eight months to arrive in Saudi Arabia.

These ships would first sail from the port of Jakarta, pass through India, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea, and then finally arrive at the port of Jeddah.

The journey, she said, was fraught with dangers, challenges and fear. However, her family’s commitment to fulfilling their religious obligation gave them the strength to persevere through th
e hardships they encountered along the way.

Maryam also talked about the Indonesian traditions surrounding Hajj in the past. The pilgrims would all gather in the city of Jakarta and bid farewell to their family members before setting off. After completing Hajj and returning home, the pilgrims’ families would warmly welcome them with various gifts, celebrating their safe return and the fulfillment of their religious journey.

She said that with current progress and development, travel to Makkah has become much easier, which leads to an increasing number of pilgrims travelling to the holy city.

She expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the Saudi leadership, which, she said, continues to exert great efforts to serve pilgrims from all over the world and help them perform Umrah and Hajj easily and comfortably.

Source: Emirates News Agency