Hajj 2025: Dates, Rituals, Significance And All You Need To Know About Muslim Pilgrimage
Performing Hajj is considered the spiritual pinnacle of a Muslim's life. They travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to undertake this essential pilgrimage.
Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is expected to begin this year on the evening of June 6 and conclude on the evening of June 11. The exact dates may vary depending on the Moon sightings, which form the basis for the Islamic lunar calendar.
Performing Hajj is considered the spiritual pinnacle of a Muslim's life. According to Islamic beliefs, Muslims travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to undertake this essential pilgrimage. It is considered one of the key five pillars of Islam.
According to Islamic beliefs, Hajj became obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult with financial means after Prophet Muhammad's "Farewell Pilgrimage" in 632 AD. Millions of Muslims flock to Mecca every year to perform Hajj. Preparations and registration for each year's pilgrimage are done well in advance to ensure smooth management during the pilgrimage period.
When Is Hajj Performed?
The Islamic calendar varies according to lunar sightings. Hence, the dates shift by 10-12 days every year. The pilgrimage of Hajj is performed during Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The pilgrimage takes place between the 8th and 13th days of the month, depending on the Moon.
What Rituals Are Performed During Hajj?
After arriving in Mecca, pilgrims perform the ritual of 'tawaf' around Kaaba on day 1 of the pilgrimage. Kaaba is a cubic structure located in the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca.
It is said that the structure was built by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Prophet Isma'il. After this, the pilgrims travel on a pilgrim path to Mina, a city outside Mecca. The brief time spent in Mina is dedicated to prayers. After making the 15km (nine-mile) journey from Mina, pilgrims spend the day at Mount Mercy, praying on the day known as ‘Day of Arafat’ in Islam. Many Muslims also keep a fast on this day.
After this, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, 11 km (7 miles) away, to spend the night under the stars and collect pebbles. The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid al-Adha when Muslims arrive back in Mina. Here, the act of stoning the devil is performed using the pebbles that were collected before. The act is repeated for another two days, after which Muslims get their hair shaved or trimmed. Following this, the farewell 'tawaf' and 'sai' are performed at Mecca again to conclude the pilgrimage.
Hajj Bookings In India
According to the Haj Committee of India, part of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, application forms for Hajj 2025 were submitted through the dedicated platforms last year itself.
The applications opened in August and were accepted till early September. Based on the applications, the Haj Committee has released a provisional selection list for applicants. The state-wise list can be accessed on the official Haj Committee website.
The body has also issued a waiting list from different states, which can be found on the official website. In 2024, a total of 1,39,964 Indians proceeded to Hajj, the official data shows.
