Massive crowds of Hajj pilgrims circle Kaaba, head to Mina
After circumambulating the Kaaba, pilgrims start moving to Mina ahead of the Hajj's climax at Mount Arafat.
Vast crowds of robed Muslim faithful have walked solemn circles around the Kaaba, the black cube at Mecca's Grand Mosque, to begin the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in several years, in the heat of the Saudi summer.
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 Muslims around the world pray towards every day.
In the afternoon, pilgrims started moving to Mina, about five kilometres (three miles) from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the Hajj's climax at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
Mina, the world's largest tent city, readied to receive the influx of pilgrims, with food supplies brought in and security forces deployed around the area.
More worshippers are expected to head to Mina on Monday, as a vibrant atmosphere takes hold of the tented city with the arrival of pilgrims by foot or via air-conditioned buses.
'Dream come true'
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 late Friday.
"This year, we will witness the largest Hajj pilgrimage in history," if things go according to plan, predicted an official with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
"The numbers will exceed 2.5 million pilgrims," added the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak with the press.
"I am living the most beautiful days of my life," said Saeed Abdel Azim, a 65-year-old Egyptian performing the ritual.
"The dream has come true," added the retiree, who had saved for 20 years to pay the thousands of dollars needed to take part.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means.
The 2023 Hajj season starts on June 26. After announcing it would be lifting Covid-19 restrictions earlier this year, Saudi Arabia aims to restore annual pilgrim numbers to pre-pandemic levels.
— TRT World (@trtworld) June 21, 2023
Let’s look at pilgrim numbers over the past years 👇 pic.twitter.com/iAg6K7NrJp
'Great blessing'
Outside the Grand Mosque, thousands prayed on colourful carpets that adorned the pavement, with male pilgrims wearing simple white robes.
"I cannot describe my feelings," said Indonesian student Yusuf Burhan, 25. "This is a great blessing. I never imagined that I would perform the Hajj this year."
The Hajj, which costs at least $5,000 a person, makes billions of dollars a year for Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, which is trying to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels.
This year's will be the biggest since 2019, before the Covid pandemic, when about 2.5 million people took part.
Only 10,000 were allowed in 2020, at the height of the global outbreak, rising to nearly 59,000 in 2021, and one million in 2022. This year, the restrictions have been removed.
Saudi businessman Samir al-Zafni said all his hotels in Mecca and Madinah are at full capacity until the first week of July.
"This year there is not a single vacant bed in our group of 67 hotels," he explained.
This year's pilgrimage also saw Saudi Arabia scrap rules that banned women who weren't accompanied by a male relative.