About 1.8 million Muslim pilgrims today headed to the fields of Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia, at the peak of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Anadolu reports.

Groups of pilgrims were closely monitored by security forces stationed along roads and paths to manage crowds in accordance with approved plans, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agency reported smooth traffic while Hajj pilgrims traveled from Mina to Arafat.

At Arafat, they will perform the combined and shortened midday and afternoon prayers at the Namirah Mosque.

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

The Hajj rituals officially began on Monday with pilgrims arriving in Mina, western Saudi Arabia, amid extensive services and security measures aimed at facilitating the pilgrimage.

The six-day Hajj season includes a sojourn in Arafat today, overnight stays in Muzdalifah, the symbolic stoning ritual and the farewell Tawaf (circulation) of the Kaaba in Mecca.

The Hajj consists of several rituals, which are intended to symbolize the core concepts of the Islamic faith and commemorate the trials of the Prophet Ibrahim and his family.

Saudi authorities have expanded organizational and security measures for the 2026 Hajj season, including the use of surveillance technologies and crowd monitoring systems to manage the movement of pilgrims and prevent unauthorized entry into the holy sites.

Source: prizrenpost