The First Film of the Hajj

Made in AH 1346/1928 CE, this film is the earliest documentary on the Hajj. Het Groote Mekka-Feest (The Great Mecca Feast) was filmed and directed by Georgio Eduardo Alberto Krugers (d. AH 1384/ 1964 CE), recording the journey that pilgrims from Indonesia, then the Dutch East Indies, made to Jeddah and Makkah al-Mukarramah.

The film, divided into four acts, chronicles the journey of Indonesian pilgrims embarking on the Hajj. It begins in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Indonesia, and then follows their pilgrimage from their arrival in Jeddah through to the conclusion of their journey in the Haramain. The footage offers glimpses into everyday life in Jeddah and Makkah, and records the diverse array of pilgrims, modes of transport, and significant landmarks such as the Ka‘bah, as well as moments of prayer and ritual.

Krugers announced his conversion to Islam, underwent circumcision, and adopted the Muslim name Abdulwahid. To avoid any resentment towards him as a colonialist and a photographer, he filmed in a concealed manner – through a hole in a long mantle that hid a rather heavy hand-held Bell & Howell Eyemo 35mm camera. This technique contributed to some of the blur and motion in his footage, and reminds us of the challenges he faced while capturing these rare scenes. 
The Great Mecca Feast premiered in Europe in November 1928 in Leiden, with an introduction by the Dutch scholar and colonial officer, Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (d. AH 1355/1936 CE).