The traditional destination of the Hajj pilgrimage associated with Eid al-Adha is Mecca.
Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia, is Islam’s holiest city and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. Pilgrims gather at the Kaaba in the Masjid al-Haram and perform a series of prescribed rites during Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar.
Eid al-Adha begins on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, during the period when Hajj pilgrims perform major rites. The festival is celebrated by Muslims around the world, not only by people physically present in Mecca. Those unable to undertake Hajj can still attend Eid prayer, give charity, share food, and observe the festival’s religious traditions.
Medina is another major Islamic holy city and the destination of the Prophet’s Mosque, but it is not the principal destination of Hajj. Jerusalem is also significant in Islam, yet Hajj is centered on Mecca and its surrounding sacred sites.