Hajj Guide 2026: Step-by-Step Rituals for First-Time Pilgrims from India

Hajj follows a fixed sequence of rituals performed over five days in Dhul Hijjah. For first-time pilgrims, knowing what happens at each stage - and roughly when - makes the whole journey far less overwhelming. Here's the order of events.

Before Hajj: Entering Ihram

Before crossing the designated boundary (miqat) around Makkah, pilgrims perform ritual ablution, put on the ihram - plain white unstitched sheets for men, and modest, simple clothing for women - and make their formal intention (niyyah) to perform Hajj. From this point on, a specific set of restrictions applies: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, and no arguing or hunting, among others.

Day 1 (8th Dhul Hijjah): Mina

Pilgrims travel to Mina, about 7 km from the Grand Mosque, and spend the day and night there in tents, performing shortened prayers. This day is sometimes called "Yawm al-Tarwiyah" and serves as a quieter start before the more intense rituals ahead.

Day 2 (9th Dhul Hijjah): Arafat - The Heart of Hajj

This is the single most important day of Hajj. Pilgrims travel from Mina to the plain of Arafat and remain there from around midday until sunset, combining their prayers and spending the afternoon standing in supplication. Missing the Day of Arafat effectively invalidates that year's Hajj - everything else in the ritual builds around this day.

Night of Day 2: Muzdalifah

After sunset, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, combine their evening prayers, and spend the night under the open sky. While there, they collect 49-70 small pebbles, which will be used over the following days for the stoning ritual (Rami) at Mina.

Day 3 (10th Dhul Hijjah): Eid al-Adha

This is the busiest single day of the pilgrimage, with four major acts performed in sequence:

1. Stoning the largest pillar (Jamarat al-Aqaba) with seven pebbles
2. Performing the animal sacrifice (Qurbani)
3. Shaving the head or trimming the hair
4. Travelling to Makkah to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah (seven circuits around the Ka'bah) and Sa'i (seven laps between Safa and Marwa)

Days 4-5 (11th-12th Dhul Hijjah): The Days of Tashreeq

Pilgrims return to Mina and, on each of these days, stone all three pillars - small, medium and large - with seven pebbles each, performed sometime between midday and sunset. Some pilgrims choose to stay for a third day (the 13th) for an additional round of stoning, though many depart after the second day.

Farewell Tawaf

Before leaving Makkah, pilgrims perform one final set of seven circuits around the Ka'bah - the Tawaf al-Wada, or Farewell Tawaf - with no additional Sa'i. This marks the formal completion of Hajj.

Preparing for Hajj from India

Beyond the rituals themselves, first-time pilgrims from India should plan around a few practical essentials: a passport valid for at least six months, up-to-date vaccinations (including meningococcal ACWY), comfortable footwear for long periods of standing and walking, and a travel agency that can handle visa processing, accommodation and transport as one coordinated package rather than separate bookings.

Travel with Quba International

Quba International Tours and Travels (Hajj | Umrah | Baghdad Tour Organizers) is based in Hubli, Karnataka, and organizes guided Hajj and Umrah journeys with an experienced Mutawif accompanying every group. Call +91 96329 77296 to discuss Hajj group departures, or explore our current Umrah packages while you plan ahead.