Pilgrims Pour into Mina as Hajj Begins

15 November, 2010 10:38

hajj1 The world’s largest annual pilgrimage, the hajj, began on Sunday with a little less than three million Muslims pouring into the camp of Mina from Mecca to prepare for solemn rituals.

Saudi authorities say permits have been granted to 1.7 million foreign pilgrims, with a further 200,000 or so issued to pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia and from neighboring Gulf States.

The passage to Mina, Tarwiah (Watering), marks the official launch of the hajj on the eighth day of the Muslim Â calendar month of Dhul Hijja.

The day is known as pilgrims stock up for the following day’s trip to Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometers southeast of Mina, where the pilgrims spend the day in prayer and reflection.

After sunset, they move on to Muzdalifah, halfway between Mount Arafat and Mina, where they spend the night.

On Tuesday, the first day of Eid Al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, the pilgrims head back to Mina after dawn prayers.

They then perform the first stage of the symbolic “stoning of the devil” and make the ritual sacrifice of an animal, usually a lamb.

During the remaining three days of the hajj, the pilgrims continue the ritual stoning before performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba in Mecca and heading home.