Hajj 2025: Over 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims join nearly 2 million Muslims from around the world

New Delhi, June 5: The annual Hajj pilgrimage began on June 4 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with nearly 2 million Muslims from 180 countries converging in Islam’s holiest city. Among them are more than 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims, braving intense desert heat and new security restrictions to complete the sacred rites that form one of the five pillars of Islam.

India's Hajj quota for 2025 includes 1,22,518 pilgrims managed by the Hajj Committee of India, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, while over 50,000 pilgrims are travelling through approved Private Tour Operators. For Indian Muslims, the journey, performed at least once in a lifetime if physically and financially able, is both a spiritual milestone and a significant logistical undertaking, involving months of preparation and coordination between governments.

Last week Delhi airport and nearby airports of neighbouring states saw huge crowds where families and relatives had gathered, hugging their loved ones travelling from India to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrim.

This year’s pilgrimage, which runs from June 4 to 8, coincides with peak summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40°C. The harsh conditions have especially affected women, the elderly, and those with health conditions. The Saudi government has implemented a series of reforms and technological upgrades to protect pilgrims from heat-related illnesses, an urgent response to the tragedy  and lessons learned during Hajj 2024, when over 1,300 people reportedly died, many from heatstroke.

To avoid a repeat of last year’s disaster, authorities have expanded shaded walkways, installed over 400 misting units, and set up hundreds of water stations throughout the pilgrimage route. Drones are being used for crowd control, medical supply drops, and surveillance. The Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to the Kaaba, is being cooled with the world’s largest air-conditioning system, maintaining internal temperatures at around 22–24°C.

Access to the pilgrimage is being tightly monitored. Saudi Arabia has turned away more than 2.7 lakh unregistered individuals, enforcing a strict "No Hajj without a permit" policy. Violators, including Saudi residents, face fines of up to $5,000, deportation, and travel bans. More than 23,000 local violators have already been penalised, as reported by regional media and licenses of several service providers have been revoked.

For Indian pilgrims, the heightened security and infrastructure improvements have led to mixed experiences. While many welcome the upgraded facilities and efficient crowd control, others face challenges due to the extreme weather and strict movement regulations. Coordination between Indian consular teams and Saudi officials has been critical in managing healthcare needs, accommodation, and the complex logistics of the five-day ritual.

Pilgrims perform a series of rites that include entering Mecca in a prescribed dress (Ihram), performing Tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba), standing in prayer on Mount Arafat, and offering symbolic sacrifices. Many also visit Medina, the Prophet Muhammad’s burial site and the second-holiest city in Islam.

For India, Hajj is not only a religious affair but a matter of diplomatic and community engagement. Each year, the Ministry of Minority Affairs partners with Saudi authorities to ensure seamless visa processing, flight coordination, and pilgrim safety. Indian medical teams, officials, and volunteers are stationed in Mecca and Medina to support the large contingent from the subcontinent. This year, special official Indian teams, months ahead of the Hajj, visited Mecca to oversee the arrangements, meeting with authorities and even securing a quota increase for Indian Muslims performing Hajj.  As the global Muslim population grows and demand for the Hajj pilgrimage rises, Saudi Arabia’s management of the Hajj has become a benchmark for large-scale event planning under extreme climate conditions.