Henna on their hands. Makkah in their hearts. Morocco's pilgrims carry a living tradition into the Hajj. At Rabat-Salé International Airport, Moroccan female Hajj pilgrims pause for a tradition older than any passport — henna — before boarding their flight to Makkah under the Makkah Route Initiative.
Before the boarding gates, before the procedures, before the long flight to Makkah — there is henna. At Rabat-Salé International Airport, Moroccan female pilgrims traveling under the Makkah Route Initiative gather in a designated lounge where henna artists apply intricate designs to their hands. It is a moment of joy and spiritual preparation, and it is one Morocco has carried into the Hajj season for generations.
The henna tradition unfolds inside the Makkah Route Initiative’s dedicated lounge, where pilgrims also complete their travel procedures through the initiative’s digital organizational system before departure. Since its launch in 2017, the Makkah Route Initiative has served more than 1.25 million pilgrims across its participating countries.
- Source: The Saudi Press Agency (SPA)