MINA, Saudi Arabia: More than 1.7 million Muslims converged on Mina before dawn on Wednesday to perform the symbolic stoning ritual marking the start of Eid Al-Adha, after spending the night in the holy site of Muzdalifah in one of the most logistically demanding stages of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Pilgrims arriving from Arafat collected pebbles in Muzdalifah late Tuesday for the ritual of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqaba, the largest of the three pillars representing Satan, according to reports carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
The overnight movement from Arafat to Muzdalifah unfolded under extensive security, health and transport operations as authorities sought to manage one of the world’s largest annual human gatherings.
Millions of pilgrims, dressed in white ihram garments, moved along pedestrian corridors stretching roughly 25 kilometers from Arafat to Mina via Muzdalifah, routes Saudi authorities describe as the world’s longest pedestrian network used for a recurring mass gathering.
Pilgrims on the way to Muzdalifah late on Tuesday from Arafat. (SPA photo)
Water misting stations lined parts of the route to help ease desert temperatures as worshippers walked between the holy sites.
In Muzdalifah, pilgrims spent the night in prayer and Qur’an recitation before preparing to return to Mina at dawn for the first stoning ritual of Hajj’s third day, known as Yawm Al-Nahr, or the Day of Sacrifice.
Saudi authorities said crowd movement remained smooth as security personnel, medical teams and service workers coordinated transport, emergency response, sanitation and field guidance operations.
The third day of Hajj coincides with the first day of Eid Al-Adha, one of Islam’s most important holidays, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
After performing the first stoning ritual, pilgrims are expected to carry out animal sacrifices and either shave or trim their hair, marking a partial exit from the sacred state of ihram. Many then travel to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah — circling the Kaaba seven times — and Sa’i, the ritual walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
Pilgrims will later return to Mina for additional stoning rituals over the following days of Tashreeq.
On Tuesday, pilgrims gathered on the Plain of Arafat for the spiritual climax of Hajj, praying and listening to the annual Hajj sermon at Namirah Mosque before beginning their journey to Muzdalifah after sunset.
Arafat, located about 20 kilometers southeast of Makkah, holds deep significance in Islamic tradition and is associated with the reunion of Adam and Eve. The site is dominated by Jabal Al-Rahmah, or Mount of Mercy, where pilgrims spend hours in supplication and reflection.
This year’s Hajj has drawn 1,707,301 pilgrims, according to Saudi authorities, up 2.04 percent from 2025.
Of those, 1,546,655 arrived from outside Saudi Arabia, while 160,646 are domestic pilgrims and residents. Most international pilgrims traveled by air.
Saudi officials have attributed the increase to expanded services, digitalized pilgrimage systems and tighter coordination among security, health and logistics agencies.
The Kingdom also expanded its Makkah Route Initiative, which allows pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures before departure from their home countries. Nearly 389,000 pilgrims used the program this year, up almost 24 percent from last year.
Authorities said more than 441,000 personnel were deployed to support Hajj operations this season, overseeing crowd management, transportation networks, medical care and emergency response as pilgrims move through the final major stages of the pilgrimage.
