Muslim pilgrims stream into Mecca's Kabaa to perform their final rituals before heading to Mina in preparation for Hajj — the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the largest religious gatherings on the planet
Muslim worshippers and pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 24, 2023 / Photo: AFP
They moved on Saturday through the white marble courtyards of Islam's holiest site to perform the tawaf, the walking circuit around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure covered in a black, gold-embroidered cloth, their fervent recitations and duaa ringing through the air.Those on the upper floors were able to walk more briskly. Pilgrims raised their hands in supplication, took selfies or video, and phoned their relatives as they performed the tawaf.
"I think this year [the] crowd is too much," said Mahboub Morshed, a 42-year-old software engineer from Bangladesh, referring to the thinner attendance of previous years. Saudi Arabia has restored full pilgrim capacity for this year's Hajj, following three years of dramatically reduced numbers due to the pandemic.
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