Schoolchildren welcome pilgrims with roses and Zamzam water at the Madinah airport. (SPA)

The Haj Ministry has embarked on a unique program to welcome pilgrims once they are through passports and customs procedures and leave the airport’s lounges at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Pilgrims are welcomed by a group of students singing welcome songs, showering rose petals and spraying floral-scented water on them, and offering dates as a gesture of love and affection to the guests of Allah.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Albejaoa, director of the Haj Ministry’s branch in Madinah, said the program is implemented by the Ministry’s branch in partnership with the Education department in Madinah.

“The branch provides buses to commute the elementary students according to the specified schedule for each school. The students are accompanied by supervisors from the school to the airport,” he explained.

He added the program aims first of all to welcome the guests of Allah who come to perform Haj.

“It also aims to instill positive values in the youth, promote the culture of generosity in them and highlight the attention that the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah pays to visitors and worshipers,” he underlined.

Albejaoa said the program has received praise and encouragement from several bodies and institutions, with a number of them expressing their wishes to participate in it.

“Yesterday a voluntary scout group in Shaqra coordinated with the Youth Welfare Office in Madinah to participate in the program. We actually welcome such partnerships that enhance the sense of social responsibility and the culture of generosity in the different segments of society. Our citizens are honored to have King Abdullah as their leader and role model in this respect,” he said.

Albejaoa praised the support offered by the Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar, who personally supervises the program.

 
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