Makkah — Ramadan’s spiritual ambiance saw hundreds of thousands of worshipers thronging the two mosques. The Holy Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah began Taraweeh’s prayers on Friday’s first night of Ramadan.
The faithful performed the prayers without social distancing for the first time after a hiatus of two years since the coronavirus pandemic. The Umrah pilgrims and visitors welcomed the return to the normal atmosphere.
The enthusiastic faithful also attended mass Iftar (breaking of fast) for the first time in two years since corona restrictions.
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The General Presidency offers integrated services for all the worshipers. It has already recruited approximately 12,000 male and female staffers split into four shifts.
The presidency has arranged services and preventive and operational measures for worshipers’ healthy and safe environment.
The entire Holy Grand Mosque is witnessing the constant washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing operations at least ten times daily. The presidency has mobilized more than 4000 male and female workers for that purpose. A total of 130,000 liters of disinfectants and 2500 liters of the most delicate fresheners and 35,000 liters of sterilizers are used daily on all surfaces and carpets.
Eleven robots sterilize 25,000 carpets at the Holy Grand Mosque. The Agency at the presidency continues distributing Zamzam water with 25,000 containers distributed throughout the Holy Grand Mosque. There are 2500 fixed marble stations for drinking the holy water in the third northern expansion of the mosque.
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The presidency also supervises the operations of electric carts inside the Holy Grand Mosque. It has harnessed artificial intelligence and interactive screens in the service of the worshipers, including robots for sterilization and distribution of Zamzam water. There is a robot to answer the questions of the faithful and another one for purification.
Interactive screens and guidance screens guide in various languages.
Through the unified number 1966, the operations center distributes Zamzam water to the worshipers and Umrah performers. It uses special transport carts and thermos flasks throughout the Grand Mosque and at fixed marble stations for drinking the holy water.
