The largest Hajj trip since the beginning of the pandemic is drawing to a close in the scorching heat of Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, vast groups of robed pilgrims flung rocks in the “stoning of the devil” ceremony.
At the break of dawn in Mina, hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims began throwing rocks at three monoliths made of concrete that represented Satan. They then began making their way to Makkah for the last tawaf of the pilgrimage.
Since the outbreak of Covid in 2020, the first Hajj to take place without restrictions is currently being attended by more than 1.8 million people. Prior to the epidemic, there were around 2.5 million people who participated in the pilgrimage, which was a record number.
During this year’s Hajj, which is taking place at the same time as the Saudi summer, pilgrims have not only had to navigate large crowds at every turn, but they have also had to endure scorching temperatures.
On Tuesday, as the pilgrims prayed for hours atop Mount Arafat, the temperature reached its highest point of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit). On Wednesday, the temperature in Mina was expected to reach 47 degrees.
