The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world’s largest devout events, officially began on Monday. Around two million pilgrims are expected in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for this year’s event, the first since restrictions similar to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted.
The pilgrims have been making the ritual trek around Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, since they arrived in Mecca within days.
(Amr Nabil/Associated Press)
Muslim pilgrims pray in front of the Kaaba on Sundays. All Muslims must perform the five-day hajj at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially willing to do so.
(Amr Nabil/Associated Press)
As the last pilgrims circled the Kaaba on Monday, others travelled on foot or by bus to Mina, where they will camp out in one of the world’s tent cities.
(Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
Hundreds of buses are parked on the outskirts of the city of Mecca, able to embark pilgrims.
(Saudi Press Agency/Reuters)
Mina is vast and open, with little respite from the desert heat and scorching sun. Soldiers and police doused pilgrims with water to cool them down.
(Amr Nabil/Associated Press)
A disabled pilgrim on a hand-driven tricycle arrives in Mina.
(Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)
The pilgrims after going to the camp of Mina.
(Amr Nabil/Associated Press)
A pilgrim reads the Koran in the camp of Mina. Pilgrims pray all day before heading Tuesday to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his last sermon.
(Amr Nabil/Associated Press)
With from The Associated Press
Public Relations, CBC P. O. P. O. Box 500, Station A Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6
Loose call (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636
It is a priority for CBC to create products that are available to everyone in Canada, adding other people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive disabilities.
Subtitles and video described are available for many CBC systems featured on CBC Gem.