Saudi Arabia is celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday (May 27), with religious solemnity and festive enthusiasm in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

The Eid-ul-Azha celebrations in the Middle East officially began after the completion of Wuquf-e-Arafah, the most significant ritual of Hajj. On Tuesday (26 May), the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, nearly 1.6 million pilgrims from around the world gathered at the plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia. From early morning, the entire Arafat area echoed with the chants of “Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk” as pilgrims dressed in white Ihram assembled there.

According to Islamic Sharia, staying at Arafat is the principal pillar of Hajj. Pilgrims remained within the designated boundaries of Arafat until sunset, spending their time in prayers, repentance, recitation of the Quran, and remembrance of Allah. Many were immersed in tears and supplications in the hope of attaining Allah’s pleasure.

At noon, the Hajj sermon was delivered from the historic Namirah Mosque by Shaykh Ali Al Hudhaifi, Imam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Haram. This year, the sermon was broadcast live with translations in 35 languages, including Bangla. In his address, he emphasized the unity of the Muslim Ummah, the establishment of Islamic values, and the importance of maintaining global peace.

After the sermon, pilgrims offered Dhuhr and Asr prayers together and departed for Muzdalifah after sunset. There, they spent the night under the open sky and collected pebbles for the ritual of stoning the devil in Mina.

On the morning of 10 Dhul-Hijjah, the main Eid-ul-Azha rituals begin with the symbolic stoning of the largest pillar representing Satan at Jamarat in Mina. Pilgrims then perform animal sacrifices seeking Allah’s pleasure. After the sacrifice, they shave or trim their hair and exit the state of Ihram. The next Hajj rituals continue with Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba.

Meanwhile, a festive atmosphere prevails across Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates. Many expatriate Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India have already purchased sacrificial animals and made preparations to celebrate Eid with family and loved ones.

To ensure smooth Hajj management, the Saudi authorities have implemented extensive security and transportation measures. Water mist stations and shaded areas have been arranged to provide comfort to pilgrims amid extreme heat. Additionally, around 24,000 special buses are operating to facilitate pilgrims` transportation.