The 8th day of Dhul Hijjah is called Yaum at-Tarwiyah. This is the day when pilgrims on Hajj start preparing for the most important day of Hajj, Yaum ‘Arafah, which falls on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah. On Yaum at-Tarwiyah, pilgrims put on their Ihram (a special clothing worn by pilgrims during Hajj) and head towards Mina, which is a small village outside of Mecca. This day is called Yaum at-Tarwiyah because in the past, people used to drink a lot of water on this day to help them endure the intense heat during the following days of Hajj. "Tarwiyah" comes from the Arabic word "tarwaa" which means "to quench the thirst."
