Pilgrims begin Haj under beating sun

More than a million pilgrims joined Islam’s most important rite under a beating sun on Wednesday, as the Haj kicked off with the Saudi hosts scrambling to avoid last year’s 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat.

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With temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), robed pilgrims slowly circumambulated the holy Kaaba — the black cube at the heart of the holy city of Makkah’s Grand Mosque which is Islam’s holiest site.

State media reported that others had begun arriving in the sprawling tent city of Mina on holy city’s outskirts where they will stay overnight before the Haj’s high-point on Thursday — prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.

About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.

Authorities have ratcheted up heat protection measures such as extra shade to avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died as temperatures hit 51.8C (125.2F).