The umbrellas were there largely to shelter from the sun - but it rained on Saturday so umbrellas were good then too It is important to shade from the sun and Arab News was happy to help ARAFAT: Arab News has been helping keep some of the 2.5 million pilgrims attending Hajj protected from the unrelenting sun. Teams of volunteers have been handing out free umbrellas to passing pilgrims so they can shelter as the sun beats down on them during their spiritual journey. And the umbrellas came in extra handy on Saturday as the sky filled with large clouds and spilled out with a torrential downpour. There are people stationed along the route to Mount Arafat handing out water and light snacks as the pilgrims pass by. And Jabal Al-Rahmah hospital is just meters away from the mountain in case the heat of the midday sun became too hot to handle.