The variety of pilgrims this yr is predicted to interrupt data at greater than 2.5 million.
The pilgrimage of Hajj has begun as crowds of Muslims donning white robes circle the Kaaba, the cubed construction on the epicentre of Islam’s holiest web site, their prayers ringing by means of the air.
The annual pilgrimage started on Sunday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia with the tawaf, the circling of the Kaaba, in an occasion that’s anticipated to interrupt attendance data.
“This yr, we are going to witness the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in historical past,” stated an official on the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Greater than 2.5 million Muslims are anticipated to participate, as coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place since 2020 have been absolutely relaxed.
That yr, simply 10,000 folks had been permitted to take part; 59,000 in 2021; and final yr there was a cap of 1 million folks.
“I’m dwelling essentially the most stunning days of my life,” Abdelazim, a 65-year-old Egyptian who saved for 20 years to pay the $6000 price he wanted to attend, instructed the AFP information company on the web site.
On Sunday night, the pilgrims will start making their strategy to Mina, about 8km (5 miles) from Mecca’s al-Masjid al-Haram, or the Grand Mosque, earlier than they collect at Mount Arafat, the place Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his last sermon.
Mina is ready for the pilgrims, with meals provides introduced in and safety forces deployed.
This yr’s Hajj is a problem, going down within the practically 45-degree-Celsius warmth, the date for the pilgrimage depending on the lunar calendar.
Saudi authorities stated greater than 32,000 well being staff and hundreds of ambulances are on standby to deal with circumstances of heatstroke, dehydration and exhaustion.
The Islamic ritual is compulsory for each able-bodied Muslim grownup who has the monetary means to participate, forming one of many 5 pillars of the faith.
The bodily and emotionally difficult expertise is supposed to cleanse followers of sin and convey them nearer to God.
This yr, Hajj is held between June 26 and July 1, with the celebration of Eid al-Adha going down on June 28.
Whereas an costly ritual, the journey of Hajj typically evokes hope for a lot of, even when they hail from components of the world besieged by battle, poverty or occupation. Many save what little cash they’ve for years, to have the ability to afford it.
4 teams of pilgrims left Gaza final week. In the meantime, pilgrims from northwestern Syria streamed by means of border crossings with Turkey. And Yemenis boarded the first direct flight to Saudi Arabia since 2016 for the pilgrimage.
