Iran Press/ Middle East: Vast crowds of robed pilgrims made solemn circles around the Kaaba, the black cube at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, on Sunday as the biggest hajj pilgrimage in years began in the heat of the Saudi summer.
Islam’s holiest site is expected to host more than two million worshippers from 160 countries during the annual rites that could break attendance records, with 1.6 million foreigners already arriving by Friday evening.
The hajj began early on Sunday with the “tawaf” -- the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the large cubic structure draped in black cloth with gold trimmings that millions of Muslims pray towards every day.
The Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once.
A series of rites are completed over four days in Mecca and its surroundings in the west of oil-rich Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday night, pilgrims started moving to Mina, about five kilometers (three miles) from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the hajj’s climax at Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon Him) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
Outside the Grand Mosque, thousands prayed on colorful carpets that adorned the pavement, with male pilgrims wearing a simple white robes. The area was dotted with ambulances, mobile clinics, and fire trucks.
The hajj poses a considerable security challenge and has seen several disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 people. There have been no major incidents since, and catastrophe was the last thing on pilgrims’ minds.
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‘Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history’ begins in Mecca
