Hajj. Pilgrimage to Mecca (50 photos)

What is really happening in Mecca? To the outside observer, this event represents a mass worship event that occurs every year. This year, the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia announced that the pilgrimage to Mecca will begin on November 14th. The Ministry of Hajj has its own website, on which all planned events are described in detail. Hajj literally means "going to another place." For any Muslim, this place is the holy city of Mecca. We bring to your attention photos of Hajj rituals in chronological order.

1. Kaaba.

2. Map of the place where the Hajj takes place. The Hajj takes 4 to 6 days, during which pilgrims must adhere to strict rules of conduct.
The first day. After passing the miqat (these are special places marking the border of the territory), pilgrims dress in ihram and prepare to enter the sacred territory of Mecca.
In Mecca, they make a ritual counter-clockwise circumambulation around the Kaaba and Al-Khatym. Pilgrims walk around seven times counterclockwise (the first three laps should be run or walked at a brisk pace). They hold five prayers in Mina.
Second day. Arafat. Pilgrims try to devote all their time in Arafat to prayer. At sunset they head to Muzdalifah. In Muzdalifah they stand in prayer all evening and all night, and also collect small stones for the ceremony of beating the devil.
Day three. Mine. Pilgrims perform the ritual of stoning the devil, then head to Masjid al Haram. Afterwards they drink from the Zamzam well.
Fourth, fifth and sixth days. Pilgrims stay in Mina for two or three days. Some go to Masjid Al Haram to perform farewell Tawaf.

3. One of the miqats of Mecca. A large building in the shape of the Koran. Non-Muslims should avoid Mecca. Saudi Arabian law prohibits them from entering there.

4. Pilgrims prepare to travel to Mina to begin the Hajj.

5. Pilgrims enter Mina to begin the Hajj.

6. Camp for pilgrims in Mina.

7. The camps in Mina are divided between countries.

8. Heavy rain will not stop any of the pilgrims.

9. Tent city in Mina.

10. White tents up to the horizon.

11. Pilgrims in Mina at night.

12. Pilgrims head to the “mountain of mercy.”

13. Millions of pilgrims.

14. Millions of pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat.

15. Thousands of pilgrims filled Arafat and its surroundings.

16. Prayer on Mount Arafat.

17. Worship on Mount Arafat

18. Pilgrims head to Muzdalifah at dawn.

19. Dream on Muzdalifah. Pilgrims need to get a good night's sleep in order to begin the third day of the Hajj with fresh energy.

20. Little Jamara.

21. Stoning the devil.

22. Stoning the devil.

23. Jamarat Bridge from above.

24. Jamarat Bridge.

25. Stoning the devil.

26. Beating Jamarat at sunset.

27. Jamarat Bridge.

28. Jamarat and the devil.

29. People leave the Jamarat Bridge.

30. KFC restaurant in Mecca.

31. Pilgrims thronged the streets and surroundings of the Haram Mosque during afternoon prayers.

32. With so many pilgrims, the streets will immediately be filled with garbage.

33. Great Mosque.

34. Hajj Security Service.

35. Counting pilgrims.

36. Transit through Hajj.

37. Pilgrims on the roof of the great mosque.

38. Haram Sharif.

39. Mecca.

40. Tawaf 2009.

41. Golden doors of the Kaaba.

42. Black stone in the Kaaba.

43. Inside the Kaaba.

44. Well Zamzam.

45. Sign of the Zamzam well.

46. Inside the great mosque.

47. Pilgrim at the great mosque.

48. Pilgrims filled all the surroundings of the great mosque.

49. Mecca Royal Clock Hotel Tower.