It is going to be a "cool" haj with the temperatures coming down

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Nov 2: It is going to be a "cool" Haj for over two million 
Muslims from the around the world when they gather in the Islamic holy city 
of Mecca in Saudi Arabia this December.
The Haj 2006-II season spreads over December and January, which are the 
coldest months of the year in Mecca and Madina. And the Haj season is 
falling in December after a gap of 33 years. Islamic calendar being a lunar 
one, Muslim festivals fall in different seasons in different years with a 
periodic cycle spanning over one-third of century.
Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia as also the Indian consulate-general in Jeddah 
have advised intending pilgrims to carry warm woollen clothes. Around 1.5 
lakh Muslims from India perform Haj every year and they usually carry light-
coloured or white clothes to beat the scorching heat of the desert cities. But 
this time around with the Haj season falling in December and spilling over to 
January, they may have to wear extra clothing to keep them warm.
"Haj-1426-II will fall in December 06-January 07. These are the cold months 
and hence you would need to use warm woollen clothing like sweaters and 
blankets. Rooms in Makkah and Madina and the tents in Mina are all air-
conditioned and hence you may feel cold, especially during the night. Please 
note that there are no heating arrangements at any of these places," a travel 
advisory issued by the Consul-General of India in Jeddah pointed out.
The common health complaints from Indian Hajis have thus far been 
dehydration, sunstroke, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters on the feet. 
This season there may not be such complaints because of relatively cooler 
days and cold nights.
Haj seasons (excepting those in January and December) have always been the 
best example of the scientific effect of high temperatures on pilgrims or a 
huge gathering of humanity. Temperatures in Mecca typically range between 
30 degrees and 50 degrees C. This time average maximum temperature is 
likely to be around 31.2 to 33.4 degrees C with the average minimum 
temperature forecast at 20.1 to 21.1 degrees C.
In a research study published by the American Scientist some time ago, it 
was stated that since pilgrims are tightly packed together in suffocatingly 
small spaces during the Haj, their body temperatures climb rapidly. This 
often had led to sunstroke deaths.
The American Scientist research study also pointed out that when 
temperatures are cooler (as in the Haj season this year), there can be a better 
chance of survival for at-risk groups such as the elderly during the coldest 
months. In case of gradual temperature increase in colder months because of 
body heat from millions of people around, one can expect a decline in 
mortality from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.