Sooner than the haj begins, pilgrims bolt to the Large Mosque in Mecca to create the tawaf: circling seven occasions across the Kaaba, a dice-formed dim shrine.
Many then create the sa’i, strolling or working between two hills seven occasions (repeated later). Overlaying a total of 5km, the sa’i now occurs fully within monumental air-conditioned tunnels.
On the first day of the haj superior, pilgrims slither to the Mina encampment, 8km away. Most clutch buses, some the suppose. Others stroll by local weather-controlled tunnels. Mina’s 100,000 communal tents are primarily air-conditioned, but pilgrims on more pricey packages salvage roomier—and cooler—accommodation.
At morning time of the 2d day, pilgrims proceed for Mount Arafat, strolling about 2km outdoors to rob buses or trains. Some hike the entire 12km, believing that to be a holier endeavour, alongside the capable pedestrian boulevard on this planet. Though uncovered, the boulevard has asphalt which is particularly coated to remain it spirited heat.
The day is then spent in prayer on the Arafat plains, largely below shade or in tents (the priciest delight in the capable cooling methods). Many pilgrims scale the height of the mountain.
At sunset pilgrims bolt to Muzdalifah, a rocky patch of desolate tract attain Mina. Now not just like the slither to Arafat, nearly everyone walks this 9km stretch, to emulate the Prophet Muhammad. Buses, although, come in for the faded or infirm.
The night at Muzdalifah is spent outdoors: no tents allowed. Excessive night-time temperatures will also be significantly abominable, as the physique doesn’t salvage its fashioned respite from heat.
On the morning of the third day, pilgrims derive stones from the flooring around Muzdalifah sooner than they stroll to the Jamarat complex attain Mina, around 4km away.
At Jamarat, pilgrims throw pebbles at pillars representing the devil, either from the flooring or from a footbridge overlooking them. At its height, some 300,000 pilgrims pass over the fundamental bridge per hour. The pillars and the build around them are enclosed below a mountainous, air-conditioned canopy, but the clicking of folks can silent ship temperatures soaring.
From there pilgrims return to Mecca and the Kaaba, for one other tawaf and sa’i. They sleep help in Mina.
On the fourth and fifth days, pilgrims return to Jamarat to stone the devil one more time. Pilgrims’ hair is lower and animal sacrifices are implemented on their behalf in remote slaughterhouses.
On the sixth and final day, pilgrims proceed the Mina camp for Mecca once more, and create a final tawaf. The haj is over. Many of us slither on to Medina, Islam’s 2d-holiest city. The important thing mosque there might perhaps be now sad by a monumental lattice of mechanical canopies.
