Essential preparation tips for this year’s Hajj

Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holiest city of Makkah, will be in full form this year after two years of limited scale Hajj reserved for only residents of Saudi Arabia. Muslims around the world, including Bangladesh, will take this divine journey as part of their religious duty.

To get started on your Hajj essentials, we have some tips outlined for you.

Clothing items and footwear

To deal with the hot and humid Saudi weather, comfortable light coloured clothes should be packed sufficiently. Female pilgrims should make sure to pack comfortable clothes that go with their abaya while men should have multiple sets of ihrams. Do not forget to pack travel towels made of microfibers for your personal hygiene.  

Be sure to take with you multiple pair of slippers that will offer you comfort and durability so that you can walk around for long stretches of time. The slippers should fit perfectly so that there won't be any chance of an injury or discomfort.

Carry bags and emergency contact info

Since you will be moving most of the time, carry bags are a must have. Whether it's a small shoulder bag or a neck bag, you will need them to carry your personal belongings like water bottles, medicine, and extra pair of shoes along with your important id cards and travel documents. Don't forget to put a power bank, a mobile charger in the bag so that your phone never runs out of charge.

All your emergency contact info's like name, country, Makkah and Madinah staying places names and others should be written on paper and either kept in your bag or make them print into id card formats that you can label on your bags with. Visible cues of ids are always a good idea to keep track of your belongings.

Stock up on medicine and toiletries

If you are taking any medicine regularly, be sure to stock them up from here as the exact medicines might not be readily available. A first aid kit consisting things like antiseptic cream, bandages, cottons and sanitizers is a must have and should be carried at all times in your bag to tend to any injury related emergencies.

Don't forget to carry along your personal toiletries like sunblock, face wash and other items. It might take a lot of time and hassle to buy everything there so stock up on them when you are shopping for Hajj essentials here. Make sure everything you pick is fragrance free as you are not allowed to use scented things while wearing ihram.

Prayer mats and dua list

It's wise to carry a prayer mat as the hard surfaces can cause you discomfort. A travel prayer mat is an ideal solution as it's very convenient to carry around. Hajj is once a year or even once in a lifetime opportunity so it's very important to carry a hajj guide with you to study it well. Make sure to have a comprehensive list of duas which you will recite and write down names of people who have asked for dua.

You can buy all your Hajj essentials from markets like Dhaka's Baitul Mukarram Shopping Complex, or at retail shops like Hajj Essential BD situated at Mirpur that caters to every Hajj need, as well as on e-commerce sites like Daraz. With Hajj upon us soon, get started with your essential preparation and have a blessed Hajj this year.