Millions of Muslims prepare for Hajj

Millions of Muslims from around the world have gathered in the Saudi
city of Mecca in anticipationof the start of Hajj - the annual Muslim
pilgrimage.
Taking part in the pilgrimage at least once in one's lifetime is a
major obligation for all able-bodied Muslims of financial means, and
between two and three million people participate in the six-day ritual
every year.
Hajj occurs in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, called
Thul-Hijjah, between the eighth and the 13th days of the month.
Hajj is, put simply, complex. There are several different ways of performing it.
The explanations that follow are, thus, a simplification of the
pilgrimage, meant to lay things out clearly, rather than
comprehensively.
Start of Hajj, 8th of Thul-Hijjah
The very first rite of Hajj is entering ihram - a pilgrim's sacred
state - when crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca, calledMiqat.
Pilgrims have been arriving in Saudi Arabia for weeks in anticipation
of this day. On the eighth of Thul-Hijjah, pilgrims enter ihram, which
entails wearing plain garments - two unstitched clothes for men, or
any loose-fitting clothing for women - as well as following certain
rules, including not hunting or engaging in sexual activity.
They then set out from Mecca en masse to Mina, whether by foot along
pilgrim paths, or by buses and cars. It is an 8km journey.
The pilgrims will spend the day inMina, only setting out the next
morning at dawn.
Day of Arafat, 9th of Thul-Hijjah
The Day of Arafat is considered one of the most important days, not
just of Hajj, but of the Islamiccalendar. Mount Arafat was the scene
of the Prophet Muhammad's final sermon, and after making the 14.4km
journey from Mina, pilgrims spend the day here in reverent prayer.
Elsewhere in the world, many Muslims choose to fast on this day.
After sunset, its time to move again, this time to Muzdalifah - a 9km
trip - where they spend the night under the stars. Many will also
begin collecting pebbles here for tomorrow's rites, departing again
just before sunrise.
'Eid day,10th of Thul-Hijjah
The 10th of Thul-Hijjah is 'Eid al-Adh'haa, a day celebrated by
Muslims around the world as the greater of the two Muslim holidays.
For those performing Hajj, the day is know as Yawm al-Hajj al-Akbar
(The big Hajj day) and is probably the longest day of the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims start the day in Muzdalifah and begin heading back to Mina
before dawn. Once in Mina, they perform the first Ramy, throwing
pebbles at columns known as Jamarat.
Millions of pilgrims converge at the Jamarat bridge, which housesthe
three columns representing the devil.
The bridge has been the sight of deadly stampedes in the past, with
around 350 people being crushed to death in 2006.
But in recent years, the event has taken place without major incident,
and this year, Saudi Arabia has unveiled an expanded five-storey
structure to accommodate the crowds.
After casting their stones, pilgrims perform the sacrifice.
Pilgrims thus slaughter a sheep, goat, cow or camel - or more likely,
pay for it to be done in their names.
At this point, pilgrims trim or shave (men only) their hair and remove
their ihram clothes. Manywill then proceed to Mecca to perform Tawaf
and Sa'y, first circling the Kaaba seven times, then walking seven
times between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
When all is finally done, they return to their campsite in Mina.
Final days,11th-13th of Thul-Hijjah
With the hardest part behind them, pilgrims will now spend the next
two or three days in Mina.
On each day, they will again perform throwing at each of the three pillars.
When their time in Mina is finished, pilgrims return to Meccato
perform the final circulation ofthe Kaaba, a "farewell" tawaf.
Before heading home, many also go to Medina, the second holiest city
in Islam, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried along with his closest
companions . Visiting Medina, however, is not a part of Hajj.