Hajj 2025: Over a million Muslims gather in Mecca. Know key rituals, dress code and weather in Saudi city

Hajj 2025: Over a million Muslims from around the world have gathered in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the Hajj 2025 – the annual pilgrimage which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Begining Wednesday, June 4 until Sunday, June 8, the devouts, braving scorching Arab summer, will immerse themselves in religious rituals and acts of worship that originated more than 1,400 years ago. Last year, 1.8 million people took part in the pilgrimage from across the world.

In 2025, India's quota for Hajj is 1.75 lakh pilgrims. Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, through the Hajj Committee of India, manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, which is 1,22,518 in 2025. The balance of the quota (over 50,000 pilgrims) was allotted to Private Tour Operators.

The Hajj is a must for those Muslims who can afford the travel costs to Saudi Arabia from their home countries.

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca - the holiest city of Islam in Saudi Arabia -- which houses the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site is performed during a particular period.

Many pilgrims also visit the city of Medina, home to the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb and the second-holiest site in Islam. While not an official part of the Hajj, visiting Medina remains a significant spiritual experience for many devout Muslims.

The Hajj pilgrimage is held annually between the eighth and 13th days of Zil-Hajj, the 12th and final month on the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, the corresponding Gregorian calendar dates of Hajj 2025 in Saudi Arabia are between 4 June and 8 June.

The pilgrims take part in four days of ceremonies, with the high point coming on the second day with mass outdoor prayers on Mount Arafat, the hill where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon.

This year, Saudi authorities have advised caution in direct sunlight, telling pilgrims to avoid going out during the day and uncovering their heads, except for rituals, unless necessary.

But it is tough to avoid the heat and crowds when the Hajj is outdoors. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, elevating the personal stakes further, and temperatures in Mecca are already 41 degrees Celsius (about 106 Fahrenheit).

Although the desert kingdom spends billions of dollars on crowd control and cooling, the volume of pilgrims and climatic conditions make it difficult to guarantee people's safety.

The countries that typically send the most pilgrims are developing nations. Some have trimmed the price of government-backed Hajj programs to make them more affordable. But this step is not always enough.

In Saudi Arabia, which has also introduced flexible payments, domestic pilgrims pay 20 per cent within 72 hours of booking, another 40 per cent during Ramadan and the final 40 per cent the following month.

People have in the past travelled to Saudi Arabia on short-term visas and entered Mecca without official permission for the Hajj. Authorities said that many of those who died in the heat during last year's Hajj were unregistered and unable to access air-conditioned pilgrim amenities.

The Interior Ministry warned in May that a fine of up to 20,000 riyals, or about $5,330, would be imposed on anyone attempting to enter Mecca during the Hajj without the correct visa.

Pilgrims are not allowed to argue, bicker or engage in sexual activity and are prohibited from wearing perfume, cutting their nails, or trimming their hair or beards.

Pilgrims next walk seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. They then move on to Mina, around five kilometres away, ahead of the main ritual of the pilgrimage at Mount Arafat.

Pilgrims assemble on the 70-metre (230-foot) high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayers and Quran recitals, staying there until the evening.

After sunset they head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they each gather dozens of pebbles so they can perform the symbolic “stoning of the devil”.

The ritual is an emulation of Prophet Abraham’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son, Ismael.

After the first stoning, the Eid al-Adha feast of sacrifice begins. The central ritual of offering a sacrifice (qurbani) commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his obedience to God.

(With PTI inputs)