More than a million devout Muslims began the grand pilgrimage today (04.06.2025) in Mecca, where authorities are making significant efforts to prevent a repeat of last year’s tragedy when at least 1,300 people died due to extreme heat. Pilgrims gathered in the holiest city of Islam, where daytime temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius, starting the first rite of Hajj by circling the sacred black cube, the Kaaba, located in the Grand Mosque. Most pilgrims arrived late at night in Mina, a valley surrounded by rocky mountains a few kilometers from Mecca. ‘Before Hajj, I spent my days watching the Grand Mosque on television. When you’re in Mecca, it feels like you no longer belong to this world,’ said one pilgrim, 63-year-old Hitham. Nearly 1.5 million pilgrims will spend their night in air-conditioned tents in Mina and move to Mount Arafat tomorrow, where Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon. Authorities have implemented measures to avoid last year’s tragedy when 1,300 pilgrims succumbed to extreme heat as temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius. This pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings globally, is one of the ‘five pillars’ of Islam. All Muslims must perform it at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. This year, shaded areas were expanded by 50,000 square meters, thousands of rescuers and nurses have been mobilized, and over 400 water stations have been installed. Saudi authorities are also using artificial intelligence to analyze data and images provided by a new fleet of unmanned aircraft deployed throughout Mecca.
Over a Million Muslims Gather in Mecca for the Grand Pilgrimage
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in World