luggage

          With regard to luggage the best advice to you is to travel as light as possible. These articles will be sufficient: four to six pairs of clothes, a warm coat, a sweater or a jacket (which can be worn when a cool breeze is blowing) ,one or two tahbands, two towels, two sheets (to be used as a coverlet or wrapper when needed), two seamless sheets of ihram (pilgrim’s robe), a prayer- mat of soft, thick material (which should be so long as to lie on it, if desired, a bed (in keeping with the weather and including a blanket) a hemp or sake-cloth about a yard wide and two and a half yards long which can be spread anywhere, a strong cord, a thin rope, a needle and thread, a pack needle for stitching sack- Cloth, a knife, a razor, a pair of scissors, a mirror, a comb, two plates, two cups, two spoons, a tumbler, a small pot, a light tiffin-carrier, a stove, a box or trunk which can hold all these things, a wicker basket, an umbrella, a lota, a bucket and a torch.

           With above luggage you can confidently look forward to make the whole journey comfortably and without having to borrow anything from others. You will also be saved from the trouble and annoyance which is usually experienced by those who are in the habit of carrying unnecessary luggage with them.

           It is not at all necessary to take food grains or other eatables with you as everything is now easily available in arabia. The prices also are almost the same. Of course, if you are fond of pickles you may take them with you. On the ship when one is seized with  nausea and vertigo and a complete loss  of appetite takes place, parched gram with a little pepper and salt and lime-juice comes in very useful. It is agreeable to eat. So, it will be better if you provide yourself with some of it.

          Above mentioned things are needed for those who are used to a comfortable standard of living and do not want to be put to inconvenience. Otherwise, to the humble & devout servants of allah, who regard the pilgrimage to be a journey  of love and endeavour and are ready to endure any hardship, many of the articles listed above will seem unnecessary burden.

        All pilgrims are advised to act accordingly. The general rule, therefore, is that pilgrims should take as less luggage with them as they can.