Hajj 2025: More than a million Muslims from around the world have gathered in the Saudi city of Mecca for Hajj 2025, an annual pilgrimage that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Starting in the middle, 4 June, until Sunday, June 8, a devoted, defending Arab summer immerses into religious rituals and acts of worship. Last year, pilgrimage from around the world was attended by 1.8 million people.
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The Indian quota for Hajj in 2025 is 1.75 Lakh pilgrims. The Ministry for Minorities of the Union through the Indian Hajj Committee manages the agreement on most quotas, which in 2025 is 1.22 518. The balance of quota (more than 50,000 pilgrims) was assigned to private travel operations.
Hajj is a necessity for those Muslims who can afford travel costs to Saudi Arabia from their home countries.
Hajj 2025: The first day Hajj begins
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the most sacred city of Islam in Saudi Arabia, in which Kaaba is located, the most sacred Islamic place, is carried out in a certain period.
Many pilgrims also visit the city of Medina, the Home for the Prophet Muhammad’s Tomb and the second place in Islam. Although it is not an official part of Hajj, visit to Medina remains a significant spiritual experience for many devotees of Muslims.
The pilgrimage of Hajj takes place every year between 8 and 13. This year, the Gregorian calendar Hajj 2025 is in Saudi Arabia between June 4 and 8 June.
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The pilgrims participate in four days of ceremonies, with the main point coming the next day with bulk outdoor prayers on Mount Arafat, hills where the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) released his last sermon.
Braveling Scorching Summer
Last year, pilgrims fought through the burning sun and choked the hot weather, while the mercury hit 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit). More than 1,300 people died.
This year, Saudi authorities They pointed out the caution of direct sunlight and asked pilgrims to avoid walking during the day and reveal their heads, except for rituals, unless necessary.
But it is difficult to avoid warmth and crowds when he is Hajj outside. This is an opportunity for many people who increase personal betting for many and temperatures in Mecca are already 41 degrees Celsius (about 106 fahrenheit).
Although the desert kingdom spends billions of dollars for control and cooling the crowd, the volume of pilgrims and climatic conditions makes it difficult to guarantee people’s security.
Travel expense
The price of Hajj ranges from $ 4,000 to 20,000, depending on the length of stay, the level of comfort and the country of departure. Emmile depreciation, high inflation and tax increase in Saudi Arabia also affect the amount that Muslims pay.
Development nations usually send most pilgrims. Some reported the prize of the government programs to make them more affordable, but this step is not enough.
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In Saudi Arabia, which also introduced flexible payments, domestic pilgrims pay 20 % within 72 hours of booking, another 40 percent during Ramadan and the last 40 percent of the following month.
Paused short -term visa
In April, to limit unauthorized pilgrims of Hajj and checking incoming travel, Saudi Arabia suspended the question of short -term visas for 14 countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Jordan, Jordan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen and Moroco.
In the past, people have traveled to Saudi Arabia on short -term visas and entered Mecca without an official permission for Hajj. The authorities said many of those who died in the heat during last year’s Hajj were not registered and were unable to access air -conditioned pilgrimage equipment.
In May, the Ministry of the Interior warned that anyone who is trying to enter Mecca during Hajj, without the right visa will be fined up to 20,000 riines, or about $ 5,330.
Code dressing white garments
During a multi -day pilgrimage, pilgrims watch dress. Men wear trouble -free white clothing that emphasizes the unity among believers. Women have to wear loose, white dress, reveal only their faces and hands.
Pilgrims must not guess, bicker or engage in sexual activity and it is forbidden to wear perfume, cut nails or trim hair or beard.
Key rituals
The first ritual includes walking seven times (called tawaf) around Kaab, a black -shaped -shaped structure that is the central point for everyday prayers. Muslims around the world turn to Kaab during the world.
Hajj 2025: The first ritual includes walking seven times (called tawaf) around Kaab, black, cubic structure, which is the central point for everyday prayers. Muslims all over the world turn over the lubrication towards Kaaba
Pilgrims then walk seven times between two hills of Safa and Marwa. Then they move to the mines, about five kilometers, in front of the main ritual pilgrimage to Arafat.
Mount Arafat
On Friday, the next day, pilgrims will gather on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the Mina, where it is believed that Muhammed, the last Islamic prophet, has released his last sermon.
The pilgrims gathered on a hill of 70 meters (230 feet) and its surrounding plain for prayers and recitals of the Qur’an and stayed there until the evening.
After sunset, they head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mine, where everyone collects dozens of pebbles to make a symbolic “stoning of the devil”.
‘Stoanling of the Devil’
The last main ritual Hajj is back in Mine, where pilgrims throw symbolic seven stones on each of the three specific walls representing Satan at 10 Zil Hajj, which corresponds to 6 June in Saudi Arabia
The ritual is the emulation of the Prophet Abraham’s stoning of the devil in three places, where it is said that Satan tried to discourage him from listening to God’s order to sacrifice his son Ismael.
After the first stoning, the holiday of the victim of Eid al-Aad begins. The central ritual of offering the victim (qurbani) reminds of the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of his obedience to God.
Day 4 and 5
On 7 and 8 June, after EID, pilgrims return to the mines and every day they re -make Rami (stone) all three stone columns. Pilgrims who remain for the next day repeat the stagni ritual on all three columns again.
Hajj is a necessity for those Muslims who can afford travel costs to Saudi Arabia from their home countries.
Goodbye Tawaf
Before they left Mecca, pilgrims perform the final tawaf around Kaab, known as Tawaf Al-Wada or “Sobem Tawaf”, which means spiritual farewell to the Holy City
(Tagstotranslate) Hajj 2025
