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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> The Great Riyadh Pastime: Shopping > Prayer carpet
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02-FEB-2014

Prayer carpet

This is a prayer carpet with a compass attached to indicate the direction of Makkah (Mecca). My guess is that it’s pretty useful for travelers when there is no mosque nearby at prayer time. This picture was taken at the airport in Jeddah, through which all pilgrims coming by air and going on the annual Haj or on Umrah (a lesser Haj that can be performed at any time of the year) pass. They even have a special Haj terminal, which is enormous; I understand that between 2 and 3 million pilgrims come to the kingdom every year to perform Haj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
1/160s f/5.6 at 11.3mm iso6400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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hamery26-Dec-2014 17:47
lovely angle and nice composition; interesting and informative caption. v
danad16-May-2014 06:40
Stunning ! ... But it think that with all the Muslims all around it won't be so difficult to find the good direction when comes the Prayer time :) V.
Julie Oldfield15-May-2014 23:08
Really interesting!
Milan Vogrin15-May-2014 06:21
Very interesting and nice capture! V!
Being Me15-May-2014 03:09
That is so interesting! I would definitely need a compass! V
Gary A. Rich (GRainelev)15-May-2014 02:51
Well, I learn something today. I did not know this at all. Great image. Thanks for sharing this with us. V.
Simon Chandler14-May-2014 22:28
Fantastic image. Very unique with great info. v
Patricia Kay14-May-2014 21:53
A beautiful Prayer carpet and really interesting info Helen...BV
Apostolos Tikopoulos14-May-2014 20:26
Very nice and interesting. v/
larose forest photos14-May-2014 20:18
It is quite beautiful, and ingenious too. Very interesting information as well. V
Jim Coffman14-May-2014 18:59
That is very interesting!
Colin Storey14-May-2014 18:33
Great details and colours, that compass is superb. v
joseantonio14-May-2014 18:26
Well seen and captured. Love the detail of the compass.V.
Gerard Koehl14-May-2014 18:20
Très joli. V