Hajj 2025 officially began on Wednesday as millions of pilgrims, including over 112,000 Pakistanis, started arriving in Mina before noon to begin the sacred journey of faith and devotion.
Pilgrims Begin Journey in Ihram
Hajj rituals take place annually between the 8th and 12th of Zil Hijjah. Pilgrims don Ihram garments and begin their journey to Mina, where they will perform Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers. After Fajr prayers on the 9th of Zil Hijjah (Thursday), pilgrims will depart for the plains of Arafat to perform Waqoof-e-Arafa, the central rite of Hajj.
Key Rituals to Follow
At Arafat, pilgrims will listen to the Hajj sermon and offer Zuhr and Asr prayers before sunset. They will then move to Muzdalifah without praying Maghrib, where they will combine Maghrib and Isha prayers and spend the night under the open sky while collecting pebbles for Rami (stoning of the devil).
On the 10th of Zil Hijjah, pilgrims will perform Rami, offer animal sacrifices, and remove their Ihram garments—marking the completion of the core Hajj rituals. On the 11th and 13th of Zil Hijjah, pilgrims will continue the ritual stoning before returning to Makkah for Tawaf and Saii between Safa and Marwa.
Over 112,000 Pakistanis Performing Hajj
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 89,000 Pakistani pilgrims are participating under the government scheme, while 23,620 are performing Hajj through private tour operators.
To support the pilgrims, 442 buses have been provided by a Saudi company and 510 additional buses by a private firm. From Thursday, pilgrims will use a 4-kilometer pedestrian tunnel to reach the Haram and will also have access to Saudi Arabia’s shuttle service.
