SAUDI ARABIA: Muslims converge on Saudi Arabia for annual Haj pilgrimage, with Saudi authorities saying they expect three million people

Record ID: 189524

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Muslims converge on Saudi Arabia for annual Haj pilgrimage, with Saudi authorities saying they expect three million people
  • Date: 27th September 2014
  • Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO HOLY MOSQUE MINARET OF GRAND MOSQUE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO HOLY MOSQUE EXTERIOR OF GRAND MOSQUE PILGRIMS ENTERING GRAND MOSQUE PILGRIMS CIRCLING AROUND THE KAABA 7 .VARIOUS OF INDONESIANS AT PILGRIMAGE KAABA AND PILGRIMS CIRCLING AROUND IT VARIOUS OF ELDERLY PILGRIM PILGRIMS CIRCLING EXTERIOR OF GRAND MOSQUE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS CIRCLING KABBA SHOT FROM THIRD FLOOR
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA98W45XB8Y4H6W8CSJTQCU1KP5
  • Story Text: Saudi authorities said they are expecting a total of three millions pilgrims from around the world for this year's annual Haj pilgrimage, as hundreds of thousands of Muslims arrived on Saturday (September 27).
    In the searing heat, the Grand Mosque in Mecca saw pilgrims arrive in large numbers for the annual religious journey, which is viewed as one of the Muslim faith's greatest acts of worship.
    The visitors were wearing wearing the simple white folds of cloth which are prescribed for Haj, and circling round the Kaaba at the mosque's centre.
    It's estimated that almost two million people have so far arrived at the site in Saudi Arabia for the Haj, which will reach a peak on Monday (September 29).
    With temperatures hitting 36 celsius (96.8F), many congregated in the cooler shadow of the building's minarets.
    Haj occurs in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, called Dhul-Hijjah.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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