More than 1.4 million Muslim pilgrims gathered in Makkah on Wednesday to perform Hajj, Islam’s most sacred pilgrimage, as Saudi authorities intensified heat protection measures to prevent a repeat of last year’s tragic fatalities. With temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F), worshippers circled the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, marking the start of the five-day ritual.
Pilgrims also began moving to Mina, a vast tent city near Makkah, where they will stay before Thursday’s climactic prayers on Mount Arafat—the site of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) final sermon. Last year, 1,301 pilgrims died due to extreme heat (51.8°C/125.2°F), prompting Saudi officials to expand shaded areas and cooling stations.
The Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, is mandatory for all financially and physically capable Muslims. This year’s rituals include the tawaf, where pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba, a sacred tradition followed by millions daily in prayers worldwide.