More than 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims from over 180 countries have started arriving at Mount Arafat today (Saturday) to observe the “Day of Arafah” during the annual Hajj pilgrimage of 1445, which falls on the ninth day of Zil Hajj.

Among them are at least 160,000 Pakistanis, joining hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world and within Saudi Arabia. They had previously marked the start of Hajj at the tent city of Mina on the Day of Tarwiyah.

Pilgrims are gathering at Jabal al-Rahmah, a 70-meter hill about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Makkah, where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) delivered his last sermon, as reported by AFP.

Later, they will proceed to Masjid-e-Nimrah to listen to the Hajj sermon by Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The sermon will be translated into 50 languages, including Urdu. Following this, the pilgrims will pray Zuhr and Asr in Arafah and depart for Muzdalifah at sunset.

In Muzdalifah, after praying Maghrib and Isha, they will collect pebbles to perform Rami al-Jamarat, symbolically stoning the devil ritual in Mina on Sunday (tomorrow).

The desert summer is set to reach 43°C, making the Hajj, which spans at least five days and is mostly outdoors, quite challenging. “It’s not easy because it’s very hot,” said 26-year-old Abraman Hawa from Ghana. “Back home we have sun, but it’s not as hot. But I will pray to Allah at Arafat because I need his support,” she added.

Saudi authorities have advised pilgrims to drink lots of water and protect themselves from the sun. Since men cannot wear hats, many carry umbrellas.

Last year, there were more than 10,000 cases of heat-related illnesses, with 10% being heat stroke, according to a Saudi official speaking to AFP this week.