- Day 1: Mina's city of tents welcomes pilgrims for Hajj 2023
- Day 2: Differences are no reason for conflict, pilgrims told during Arafat Day
- Day 3: Pilgrims embrace Hajj traditions as Eid Al Adha begins
- Pilgrims stone the devil on second-last day of Hajj
- Pilgrims begin to return home as Saudi Arabia delivers successful pilgrimage
- Some pilgrims will stay for a farewell Tawaf on the final day of Tashreeq on July 1
Pilgrims begin heading home after successful post-pandemic Hajj
Pilgrims on the shorter Hajj schedule concluded their rituals on Friday with the farewell circumambulation.
Most of the pilgrims, who numbered 1.8 million this year, will pack their belongings to exit the holy sites on the “Day of Haste".
This takes place on the third day of Eid and the second day of Tashreeq - Friday, June 30.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has prepared to receive pilgrims in the final circumambulation – where an influx of pilgrims coming from Mina will enter the Grand Mosque.
After the Farewell Tawaf, a large number of pilgrims will choose to head to Madinah to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit prominent Islamic landmarks.
The remaining pilgrims will spend two days in Mina, where they will stone the devil at three sites each day.
Pilgrims will make their way to the Jamarat centre in Mina to throw the three sets of Jamarat, or pebbles, starting with the small stone column, then the central, then the Jamarat Al Kubrah, the greater column.
The pilgrimage took place seamlessly without major incident, except for heat-related conditions as temperatures passed 40°C this week.
More than 6,500 cases of heat exhaustion have been recorded by the Ministry of Health.
The question on everyone's mind: Where do the Jamarat stones go?
Kedana, the main developer of the holy sites, told the Saudi Press Agency that the process of dealing with the stones begins on the first day of the stoning of the devil, immediately after the pilgrims complete the rite.
More than 72m food and beverage items distributed in Mina and at holy sites
Saudi Arabia supported this year's Hajj pilgrims by providing more than 72 million food and beverage items in the town of Mina over the first days of Eid Al Adha.
The Ministry of Commerce said it supervised the distribution of more than 39.8 million beverages, including milk and juices, as well as the provision of 17.3 million water bottles and more than 336,000 ice packs to prevent dehydration.
Additionally, over 14.3 million baked goods and more than 710,000 ready meals were distributed,
The ministry's supervisory teams continue to visit sales outlets to verify whether there are enough goods to meet the needs of pilgrims.
The team is also monitoring all commercial establishments, sales outlets and grocers in Mina to verify whether they are complying with consumer protection regulations, and to curb commercial offences.
Cases of heat exhaustion rise during Hajj
There has been a steady increase in the number of pilgrims who have suffered from heat exhaustion, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has said.
The number of cases reached 1,721 on Thursday, the ministry said.
The main cause has been the failure by pilgrims to adhere to the instructions issued by authorities, it said.
More than 6,500 cases of heat exhaustion have been recorded by the ministry so far.
The ministry has advised pilgrims to use an umbrella throughout the day, stay hydrated and drink sufficient amounts of water.
People with disabilities praise Hajj accessibility
People with disabilities have praised Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for supporting them as they performed their pilgrimage this year.
The ministry helped 450 people with disabilities and orphans to perform Hajj this year.
Modern vehicles were provided for transport while a special path was designated for their use inside the holy sites, the ministry said.
Medical services, sign language translators and Braille services were also provided.
Saudi authorities warn pilgrims about online fraudsters offering fake Hajj services
Mariam Nihal reports:
Saudi Arabia's security forces have warned pilgrims to be wary of online fraudsters offering fake services related to Hajj.
Authorities called on pilgrims to ignore advertisements posted on social media by fraudsters claiming that they can perform rituals “on behalf of others".
They also issued a warning against those advertising Adahi coupons, which are offered directly by the Saudi government through an online portal.
Authorities said there were websites selling Hajj bracelets, which, again, are provided by government agencies.
“Exploiting the pilgrimage to collect donations is considered a major crime that warrants arrest if these practices involve the use of fraudulent methods to illegally seize money from others,” the security forces said.
Meanwhile, India's Hajj Committee advised pilgrims not to “pay any amount to any private individual, agency or association for arrangements related to Hajj 2023".
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Technology helps Saudi medics provide 3,500 services to Hajj pilgrims
The Saudi Health Ministry has provided 3,500 different medical services to Hajj pilgrims using the latest technology this year, its spokesman Dr Mohammed Al Abdali has said.
More than 215,000 pilgrims have received medical aid during this year's Hajj with more than 4,000 people being admitted to hospital, he said.
Medics have dealt with 6,700 cases of heatstroke, 2,200 of which arose on Wednesday.
Saudi Post issues commemorative stamp for Hajj
Saudi Post, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has issued a commemorative stamp for this year's Hajj under the ministry's "Proclaim to the People" initiative.
The initiative's name echoes the call made by God in the Quran to the Prophet Ibrahim and the Prophet Mohammed, to inform Muslims around the world of the Hajj pilgrimage.
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Mariam Nihal reports:
Watch: Time-lapse video captures beauty of circumambulation of the Kaaba
Older Muslims begin to finish Hajj after restrictions lifted
lsafi Mansur's "lifelong" wish to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage came true this year after Saudi Arabia lifted age restrictions on the Islamic ritual following the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I feared that I would die before performing Hajj," said the Libyan national, 71, who took his medication with him for the trip.
"Hajj has been a lifelong wish for me," Mr Mansur, a father of seven, said at Mount Arafat, praying under temperatures that peaked at 48°C on Tuesday.
Covid-19 restrictions saw Saudi authorities limit the number of pilgrims in 2020 and introduce an age cap of 65.
The measures were scrapped in January this year, making way for the largest Hajj since the pandemic, with thousands of older Muslims among the worshippers.
"I feel great joy, and I hope God bestows this experience on everyone," said Mr Mansur, who had been saving for decades for the trip.