Mecca women celebrate 'Day of Arafat' with solemnity, joy

The women of Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Mecca) continued the age-old tradition of celebrating the Day of Arafat on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah each year.

The Sacred Mosque was filled with women wearing black cloaks, as they gathered to perform Tawaf around the honorable Kaaba and enjoy a rare opportunity to experience the sanctuary without the usual crowds of pilgrims.

They were able to freely touch and kiss the Black Stone, make supplications, and spend extended periods near the Kaaba. Afterward, they returned home to celebrate the day with chanting and festivities, expressing their joy and offering hospitality.

This day was traditionally observed by women in Makkah Al-Mukarramah during the Hajj season, particularly on the days of Tarwiyah and Arafah.

Women from different regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah would come together at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, accompanied by their children, to break their fast inside the mosque.