Muslim pilgrims head to Mount Arafat for haj pilgrimage

ISTANBUL - Around 1.8 million Muslim pilgrims on Tuesday headed to the plains of Mount Arafat in western Saudi Arabia, at the height of the annual Haj pilgrimage, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency.

Pilgrim convoys were closely monitored by security forces deployed along routes and walkways to manage crowds in line with approved plans.

The agency reported smooth traffic as pilgrims travelled from Mina to Arafat.

In Arafat, they will perform midday and afternoon prayers in combined and shortened forms at Namirah Mosque.

At sunset, they will proceed to Muzdalifah, where they will perform the sunset and night prayers, then remain overnight until dawn of the next day.

Haj rituals officially began Monday with pilgrims arriving in Mina, west of Saudi Arabia, amid extensive services and security measures aimed at facilitating the pilgrimage.

The six-day Haj season includes the standing at Arafat on Tuesday, overnight stays in Muzdalifah, the symbolic stoning ritual and the farewell circumambulation at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The ritual consists of several rituals, which are meant to symbolise the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.

Saudi authorities have expanded organisational and security measures for the 2026 Haj season, including the use of surveillance technologies and crowd-monitoring systems to manage pilgrim movement and prevent unauthorised entry into the holy sites. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU