The hajj pilgrimage can be physically draining even in ideal conditions, but worshippers this year face an added challenge: scorching sun and temperatures rising to 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit). Muslims who have flocked to western Saudi Arabia for the five-day affair, most of which takes place in the open air, are being confronted with a stark reminder of how warming trends are exacerbating what was already a very hot desert climate. Islam forbids men from wearing hats once the hajj rites start, and many have been seen trying to shield themselves with umbrellas, prayer mats and even, in one case, a small bucket filled with water. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES