Several accounts describe how hajj pilgrims in Mecca adjust their routines to cope with extreme daytime temperatures. One first-time pilgrim, Inas Gamal, traveling from Egypt, says she drops her earlier plan to spend the days before the hajj praying at the Grand Mosque because the heat is more severe than expected. She instead stays in air-conditioned hotel rooms for daytime prayers, returning to public areas later when conditions are less punishing.
Sources report that temperatures in Mecca exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting pilgrims to look for practical ways to stay cool. Tactics mentioned include using large fans and seeking cooling food such as ice cream. The accounts focus on everyday adjustments rather than disruptions, describing heat as the main challenge faced by pilgrims during the period leading up to the hajj.
Overall, the reporting highlights the impact of high temperatures on pilgrims’ comfort and daily schedules, as they balance religious commitments with basic health and safety needs in the outdoor conditions.
