The Supreme Council of the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia has declared June 15 as Arafat Day and June 16 as Eid-Adha. It said that Dhul Hijjah will start tomorrow, June 7, having sited the crescent of the new moon this evening, June 6.
The Saudi authorities said that pilgrimage will start on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah which is June 14 and end on the 12th, which is June 18.
Pilgrims are expected to perform a set of rituals in various Holy places in Makkah and Madinah, including pelting the devil in Jamrah, circumbulating the Holy Kaaba, walking back and forth seven times between the two small hills of Safa and Marwa at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visits to some Holy and historic sites in Madinah.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 46,000 Nigerian Muslims are already in the Holy land for the performance of the pilgrimage.
They were flown to Saudi Arabia in 107 flights by Flyner airlines, MaxAir and others in a total of 107 flights
The Hajj operations are being conducted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
