Robots this week began distributing holy Zamzam water bottles to provide physical distancing in Mecca, Islam's holiest city in Saudi Arabia, as the hajj, the great pilgrimage approaches. annual.
This water, miraculous according to Muslim tradition, is distributed by hundreds of thousands of bottles each year and pilgrims usually crowd around the water taps of the Zamzam spring, located in the Great Mosque.
But, for the second year in a row, only the faithful already residing in Saudi Arabia will be able to perform the hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
And if the number of authorized pilgrims has increased from tens of thousands in 2020 to 60,000 this year, only vaccinated people will be able to participate, the Saudi government said on Saturday.
"A contactless 'self-service'"
The authorities have set up small black and white robots in the form of rolling shelves that move to approach the faithful this Sunday.
They watched them, grabbing bottles of Zamzam water with an air both bewildered and amused.
"The objective of these robots is to offer a 'self-service' without human contact," explained Bader Al-Loqmani, responsible for managing the water in Zamzam not far from the Kaaba, the building towards which Muslims go. turn to pray.
"About 20 robots are currently available and ready to serve the pilgrims for the next hajj," he added, adding that their number could increase if necessary.
In 2019, before the pandemic, Saudi Arabia welcomed no less than 2.5 million Muslims from around the world to participate in this pilgrimage.
It is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
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Coronavirus
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Pilgrimage
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