What You Must Not Forget For Packing for Hajj

Hajj is the Arabic word of pilgrimage and considered as the fifth pillar of the Islamic religion. Hajj actually refers to the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is a regarded as a religious duty which every Muslim, who is able-bodied and financially capable, must perform. As Hajj is a journey undertaken once in a lifetime, a lot of preparation goes into organizing it. You should be prepared to spend a considerable amount of money and invest your time and effort if you want your pilgrimage to be meaningful. rnOne of the first things that you must get ready with is the paperwork. Getting your documents well in advance ensures that you do not have to rush in the last moment. It is good to commence your preparations at least 3 to 4 months before your departure for Hajj 2011. Some of the things that you must carry with yourself to your journey for HajjandUmrah are as follows: Proper clothingrnMecca is a warm place where temperatures soar as high as 40 degree Celsius. Add to this the huge crowd, blazing sun which results in an extremely uncomfortable and hard day. This calls for proper clothing to ensure that you remain comfortable during your stay in Mecca. Men can wear the Ihram which is a cotton two-pieced unsown cloth. This is comfortable apparel for men and offer better sweat absorption. MedicinesrnHajj-goers usually get either gastrointestinal or respiratory infection during their journey. That is because people come to Mecca from all over the world and it is difficult to tell who is carrying what infection. You also cannot avoid proximity to all these pilgrims and that makes you more prone to contracting an infection.rnAs Hajj is a physically demanding journey, the lack of sleep and rest decreases your immunity making you more vulnerable. However, if you go there well-prepared taking all the necessary medications along you can prevent the occurrence of any disease. Pain killers, cough syrups, multivitamins, sleeping aids, pain balm, antibacterial creams, anti-diarrheal are some of the must-haves in your medicine kit. You may also include plaster dressing to address any wounds or cuts. ToiletriesrnThe excessive heat produces too much sweat and so it is important to carry a lot of soap, shampoo and deodorant so that you can freshen up after a tiring day. Do not forget to carry a pair of scissors, shaving kit and nail clippers. Carrying a pack of wipes would be a good idea since you have to spend a lot of time out in the sun. rnWaist PouchrnYou may buy a small-sized bag to be worn around the waist where you can keep items like your credit card, passport, keys, traveller's check, etc. Never leave your hotel room without this bag and take care of it when you are outside. If you are not alert you may become the next victim of pickpocket during the course of Hajj 2011 trips.