Millions of Muslims began this year's Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah on Wednesday, and the authorities have taken additional measures to contend with this year's sweltering heat, expected to exceed 44 degrees Celsius. Over the span of five days, the pilgrims will immerse themselves in religious rituals ordered by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than 1400 years ago. After entering Makkah, pilgrims will start their journey with the tawaf by circling the Kaaba, a black cube-shaped structure in the center of the Great Mosque and Islam's holiest site, seven times in an anti-clockwise direction to express a unified devotion to one God. Pilgrims will then travel to Mina, Arafat, and the Mashhar — other sacred sites in Makkah, where they will perform additional rituals and acts of worship. Before leaving the holy city, Muslims will circle the Kaaba another seven times, signifying a spiritual farewell to the sacred sanctuary. A successful completion of the Hajj, a spiritual experience of a lifetime, is a chance to seek God's forgiveness and can wipe the slate clean of past sins. While it's only required to do the pilgrimage once in a lifetime, some Muslims perform the Hajj multiple times. Saudi authorities say they have stepped up safety precautions for the annual event. This year, Riyadh has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and cooling systems. The world's largest and a one-of-a-kind cooling system installed in the Grand Mosque will keep pilgrims comfortable at temperatures ranging from 22-24 degrees Celsius, local media reported. They have planted thousands of trees to help alleviate temperatures forecast to reach 44C (111F). They have warned pilgrims attempting to undertake the Hajj without an official permit that they face a $5,000 (£3,685) fine and a 10-year entry ban. As of Sunday, officials said they had stopped more than 269,000 people without permits from entering Makkah. Representing one of the biggest policy changes in years, Riyadh has also introduced a ban on the participation of children younger than 12 years old in this year's Hajj. Children are exempt from doing the Hajj and are not required to fulfill other religious obligations, such as praying and fasting, until they reach puberty. The Saudi health ministry urged the pilgrims to follow strict guidelines to mitigate the effects of the heat, including avoiding exposure to the sun between 10:00 and 16:00, using umbrellas to shade themselves, and drinking water regularly. Shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 sq m (12 acres) and more than 400 cooling units have been installed, according to the Hajj minister. The cooling system in the Grand Mosque is the largest in the world, according to state TV. More rubberized and cooled roads have also been built to reduce surface temperatures, and artificial intelligence will be used to monitor a fleet of drones and help manage crowds. The Hajj is one of the five Pillars of Islam and takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the journey that every adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically fit. — Agencies
