The Day of Tarwiyah begins in Mina, marking the start of the major Hajj rituals
With the sunrise of Monday, the eighth of Dhu al-Hijjah, crowds of pilgrims to the Sacred House of Allah began arriving at Mina in western Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of the Hajj rituals in a majestic spiritual scene, where tongues and hearts unite under the call of the Talbiyah at the beginning of one of the greatest spiritual journeys in the Islamic world, with participation exceeding two million pilgrims.
Pilgrims spend the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, the first station of Hajj, following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, repeating: “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka la sharika laka Labbayk, inna al-hamda wa al-ni‘mata laka wa al-mulk, la sharika lak.”
Pilgrims in Mina perform shortened prayers without combining them before heading to the plains of Arafat after sunrise on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah.
The Day of Tarwiyah was given this name because pilgrims in the past used to stock up on water from Makkah and carry it with them to Mina and Arafat to last until the end of the rituals.
Mina is located seven kilometers northeast of Al-Masjid Al-Haram between Makkah and Muzdalifah. It is a valley surrounded by mountains and inhabited only during the Hajj season. It is said that its name comes from the blood of sacrificial animals shed there during the Day of Sacrifice and the Days of Tashreeq.
This holy site is distinguished by its unique rhythm, reaching peak human density within a few days before returning to its usual calm after the rituals end, after which development works begin in preparation for future seasons.
By evening, Mina transforms into a vibrant human tableau where various languages and cultures of the world merge under one unified call: “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk.”
Operational readiness and exceptional organization in serving the Guests of the Most Merciful
With the start of the Day of Tarwiyah, one of the world’s largest seasonal organizational operations emerges in Makkah, as Mina transforms into a city with integrated services and infrastructure within a record time, capable of accommodating more than two million pilgrims within a comprehensive operational system ensuring the performance of rituals with ease and tranquility.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the completion of its readiness to organize the movement of pilgrims to Mina and monitor the quality of services provided to them in coordination with all relevant authorities.
The ministry explained that its strategies include managing pilgrims’ movement from their accommodation to the camps, ensuring smooth entry, and providing field guidance according to the operational plans for the Hajj season of 1447 AH.
It also pointed out that the developed tent project in Mina extends over an area approaching 2.5 million square meters, with a capacity exceeding 2.6 million pilgrims, in addition to training more than 30,000 personnel on digital solutions and field operations management, preparing thousands of leaders and supervisors for pilgrim grouping operations, and implementing simulation exercises to measure readiness levels.
In a related context, the Kingdom announced increasing the capacity of Mina through the implementation of more than 25 development projects, including equipping more than 54,000 camps and expanding the “Green Mashair” initiative by planting more than 60,000 trees, in addition to launching multilingual awareness programs that included publishing around 630,000 educational materials.
The first groups of pilgrims had arrived in Mina on Sunday evening, while the number of pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia exceeded 1.5 million pilgrims within a six-day season that begins with the Day of Tarwiyah and reaches its peak with standing at Arafat before completing the remaining rituals.
Continuation of operational readiness in Mina with pilgrims arriving for the Day of Tarwiyah
As a direct extension of the integrated operational and organizational readiness witnessed in Mina during the Hajj season of 1447 AH, and amid prior preparations that included infrastructure, pilgrim grouping plans, and crowd management, the Guests of the Most Merciful continued arriving at Mina on the morning of the Day of Tarwiyah in a majestic spiritual scene in preparation for the beginning of the rituals and the ascent to Arafat.
This movement is considered a continuation of the intensive organization within the holy sites, as pilgrims begin a new stage of their spiritual journey in Mina, reflecting the integration of field efforts among various sectors to serve the Guests of the Most Merciful and facilitate the performance of their rituals.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had previously announced the completion of its operational readiness for grouping strategies through a system that includes training more than 30,000 personnel on digital solutions and field operations management, in addition to thousands of leaders and grouping members trained in crowd management according to modern operating systems, supported by simulation exercises to measure readiness efficiency in coordination with relevant authorities.
The Day of Tarwiyah in Mina reflects the integration of organizational and operational efforts during the Hajj season of 1447 AH, where high readiness is demonstrated in managing pilgrim flow and facilitating their movement between the holy sites with smoothness and safety. This scene confirms the success of grouping and crowd management plans, ensuring the performance of rituals in an atmosphere dominated by tranquility and meticulous organization, while reflecting the continued development and increasing efficiency of the Hajj services system year after year.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication date: May 25, 2026.
Last updated:
