14 lakh Muslims reach Saudi Arabia as Hajj 2025 pilgrimage begins in Mecca amid scorching heat; check restrictions, rules for pilgrims
Hajj 2025 commenced in Mecca, Saudi Arabia from Wednesday, June 4. (File)
More than 14 lakh Muslim pilgrims from across the globe have converged in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj 2025 pilgrimage which began in the holy city of Mecca on Wednesday (June 4) amidst scorching desert heat. Pilgrims from every corner of the world have begun Hajj rituals under the open skies of Mecca, braving the searing desert sun, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, presently a challenge, especially for the women and the elderly.
In wake of last year's tragic deaths, when scores of pilgrims die due to heat stroke, the Saudi Arabian government has made stricter arrangements to protect pilgrims. According to Saudi officials, the number of tents have been increased for pilgrims to prevent overcrowding, while additional medical personnel have also been deployed near the sacred site.
Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah informed that authorities have installed more than 400 cooling units in the area to ease the challenge for pilgrims to complete the 'Tawaf' (ritual circumambulation) of the Holy Kaaba. Only those with Hajj permits allowed inside Mecca
Notably, around 1300 people people, mostly pilgrims died in heat-related incidents during last year's Hajj season when a heatwave swept across Mecca and other Saudi cities, with temperatures reaching a scorching 51 degrees Celsius. Following the tragedy, Saudi Arabia introduced sweeping changes to its Hajj and visa policies, including barring people without valid Hajj permits from performing the annual pilgrimage.
Additionally, stricter entry and exit rules have been enforced for the twin holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and AI-based systems have been deployed for better crowd monitoring and management, according to officials.
According to Saudi authorities most of the pilgrims who died of heat stroke last year did not carry valid permits and fell victims to the brutal desert heat as they did not have access to air-conditioned tents and buses. In wake of last year's tragedy, Saudi officials have launched a crackdown on unauthorized Hajj pilgrims during Hajj 2025 through frequent riads, drone surveillance and text alerts.
Countries are allotted Hajj permits on a quota basis. Children banned from Hajj 2025
Another major step to ensure pilgrims' safety this year is that Saudi Arabia has barred children under the age of 12 from performing the Hajj pilgrimage this year. This significant policy change, one of the biggest in recent years, has been introduced as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of children during the journey which could be dangerous for kids due to massive crowds.
Earlier, in April, Saudi Arabia suspended short-term visas of 14 countries to curb unauthorized Hajj pilgrims and prevent overcrowding. These include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen and Morocco.
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