Since yesterday, Friday, tens of thousands of pilgrims have begun departing from the holy city of Mecca after completing the rituals of Hajj, braving the intense heat.

This year, more than 1.8 million pilgrims from over 160 countries participated in the Hajj season, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

This Hajj season is the largest since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted Saudi authorities to limit the number of pilgrims for the past three years.

Today, Saturday, those who remain in Mecca are continuing their Hajj journey by performing the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat in Mina, located west of Saudi Arabia. This ritual emulates the actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Meanwhile, the pilgrims who have completed their Hajj have performed the farewell circumambulation (Tawaf al-Widaa) around the Kaaba in Mecca yesterday.

The stoning of the Jamarat ritual spans three days during the Hajj period, but it can be completed in two days.