Fragrance-free toiletries and lots of snacks: The ultimate packing list for the Hajj pilgrimage

More than 1.5 cardinal overseas pilgrims are successful Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj.

The five-day rite that each Muslim must execute erstwhile successful their life is an awe-inspiring belief experience.

But it is besides physically gruelling. Pilgrims locomotion for hours and hold successful immense crowds astir beatified sites and nan surrounding desert.

The state has spent billions of dollars connected crowd power and information measures, but 1 of nan top challenges astatine nan Hajj successful caller years has been nan heat.

Pilgrims are presently gathering astatine Mount Arafat amid temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius - which are expected to scope arsenic precocious arsenic 45C successful nan coming days.

After 1,300 group died from utmost power and overcrowding past year, Saudi Arabia has installed complete 400 cooling units and curbed unregistered pilgrims.

If you’re readying connected joining nan Hajj visit for nan first time, packing nan correct clothing and useful items is essential.

To beryllium prepared some for nan belief regulations and nan applicable challenges, present are what seasoned hajjis - arsenic those who person completed nan visit are known - urge packing.

What to deterioration connected a Hajj pilgrimage

The yearly visit to Mecca, nan holiest metropolis for Muslims, tin often autumn during 1 of nan hottest periods of nan year.

The rite, which began connected 4 June this year, will spot pilgrims navigating godforsaken climates of complete 40 degrees Celsius during nan day.

The mostly of rituals return spot outdoors successful nan desert, including climbing nan Mount of Mercy and stoning nan Jamarat, a statement of pillars representing nan devil.

To debar heatstroke, sun hats are key. Pilgrims often opt for wide-brimmed straw hats aliases moreover cowboy hats.

Alternatively, galore bring umbrellas aliases equilibrium their dream mats connected their heads.

All men are required to deterioration elemental achromatic robes without immoderate stitching, a norm aimed astatine uniting rich | and poor.

Women must screen their hairsbreadth but person much state to deterioration fabrics from their autochthonal countries, resulting successful a colourful show of Islam’s multiculturalism.

When it comes to footwear, it’s champion to deterioration thing that’s durable for nan agelong walks but that besides slips connected and disconnected easily, arsenic pilgrims must region their shoes earlier entering Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

Sandals are sensible, but immoderate pilgrims opportunity it’s champion besides to deterioration socks arsenic nan mosque’s marble level tin beryllium amazingly acold arsenic they locomotion astir nan Kaaba 7 times.

What to bring connected a Hajj pilgrimage

A daypack of immoderate benignant is basal for carrying food, water, sunscreen and toiletries. But backpacks tin beryllium a hassle erstwhile you’re crammed shoulder-to-shoulder.

Far much celebrated are cross-body bags that you tin entree without turning around.

Many pilgrims besides transportation a abstracted drawstring container aliases pouch for their shoes. Usually astatine mosques, you tin time off your shoes pinch an attendant astatine nan entrance.

But pinch hundreds of thousands of group flocking to nan Grand Mosque, it’s easy to suffer your shoes and walk a agelong clip trying to find them.

Some pilgrims, for illustration Umaima Hafez, a five-time hajjah from Egypt, battalion a portable integrative stool. It fits successful her container and makes nan hours-long waits much manageable.

When it comes to toiletries, make judge you bring only those that are fragrance-free to comply pinch nan prohibition connected perfume.

Be prepared to campy out

With beatified sites dispersed complete a region of much than 16 kilometres, pilgrims whitethorn besides request to campy retired successful nan desert. It could mean staying location for illustration Mina - 1 of nan world’s largest shelter camps.

There are places you tin acquisition camping instrumentality successful Mecca. Supermarkets often waste essentials for illustration lightweight tents, sleeping mats and collapsible h2o pouches.

For food, it’s sensible to bring thing that tin beryllium consumed easy connected nan move and doesn’t request refrigeration aliases utensils, specified arsenic dried fruit, nuts, biscuits and crisps.