Zaheer Khan Sahib, a missionary and naib afsar Jalsa Salana UK, who supervises the Jalsa Salana UK office and reporting department, spoke to Al Hakam about the latest updates for Jalsa Salana UK and the preparation for it during the pandemic. Below is an update on the preparations of this upcoming auspicious event:
First and foremost, it is important to note that under the instructions and guidance of Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, everyone attending Jalsa Salana UK must put on a face mask before entering the main Jalsa arena, must show their face to the scanning team by temporarily taking off their mask and then continue to keep their mask on everywhere in the Jalsa site. To ensure security for both the men’s and women’s side, members must show their faces to the scanning team upon entry, but only when asked to do so. In the main Jalsa arena, everyone is required to wear face masks at all times.
Insha-Allah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa will be inspecting the Jalsa Salana site in Hadeeqatul Mahdi on Thursday, 5 August. Only those who will be carrying out duties will be able to attend this inspection and inauguration of Jalsa duties. Tea and refreshments will be served.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa has given permission for Makhzan-e-Tasaweer (@makhzanteam) department to hold an exhibition this year at Jalsa. They will be showcasing historic pictures of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya.
Other departments such as The Review of Religions, Press and Media, UK Press, Al Fazl and Al Hakam etc. will be given an area where they will be able to work from.
The International Bai‘at will not take place this year due to social distancing measures. Instead, a special documentary by MTA International will be played that will showcase the bai‘ats that have taken place in the past.
The 28-day period given by the local council to set up and then clear the Jalsa site started on 19 July 2021. Since then, the Jalsa site has been busy with marquees being erected, tracks being laid. 40% of the fences have been put up and 40% of the toilets have been set up too. The work continues every day.
Hired cabins have been set up and various marquees continue to be erected throughout the Jalsa site. The structures of the main Jalsa gah – on both the women’s side and men’s – have been put up and the flooring work is happening. The dedication and hard work by Imran Chughtai Sahib, naib afsar Jalsa Salana, and his team has been commendable in setting up these hired installments like cabins, toilets and marquees etc.
Various deliveries to stock the Jalsa Salana stores have also started and they continue every day.
The roti plant has been run and tested and final touches to the kitchens are being made. This year, we have 176 burners for the langar khana (kitchen). Of course, this will create a lot of heat and so we have had special fans and ventilation systems installed. Zaheer Jatoi Sahib, a gas engineer, has been installing these with his team and is working very hard.
In terms of the langar khana and food supply, as mentioned in the previous report in Al Hakam, lunch will be served onsite and dinner will be given for attendees to take home. The food marquee will be able to accommodate 750 people at one time, with social distancing measures being adhered to. Therefore, we aim to provide all the attendees lunch within 1-1.5 hours.
The electrical systems and cables etc. continue to be installed throughout the Jalsa arena and Pir Basharat Sahib, an electrical engineer, and his team are working very hard in this regard.
The khidmat-e-khalq department – which runs under Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK – is providing constant manpower every day at the Jalsa site. At all times, at least 10 Khuddam are at the site to help in preparations. Khuddam come for waqar-e-amal (labour) every day too from various parts of the UK, including students of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK who will be spending their time there now. These khuddam assist and help in various departments.
To ensure a Covid-19-safe environment, various checks and balances have been put in place and these were mentioned in the previous report in Al Hakam. We have also put up signs, reminders and displays to remind Jalsa Salana attendees of the precautions they should be adhering to.
Those who have been outside of the UK two weeks prior to Jalsa Salana and have been given an invitation to attend, are urged to let the Jalsa organisation know immediately so that an assessment can be made.
The Jalsa Salana office has already sent out car passes for various departments and car passes continue to be printed and sent out. Displaying the car pass is essential. The designing and printing of Jalsa Salana invitations is being finalised and very soon, Jalsa attendees will receive their invitations.
We have also placed an EE booster for phone signals and the signals now at the Jalsa site are very good.
This year, a special electronic backdrop will be installed in the Jalsa gah – a new edition to Jalsa Salana.
Marquees for first aid and homeopathy will be available during Jalsa.
We request for prayers for the success of the Jalsa Salana.