LOC22:38
19:38 GMT
MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia, Aug 29 (KUNA) -- Over two million pilgrims will gather in Mina Valley, in the Holy City of Makkah Wednesday to signal the start of this year's Hajj season.
Chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" (O God, here I am answering your call), and cladded white seamless garments, pilgrims will begin moving to Mina in groups after pre-dawn prayers.
After their five-kilometer journey, pilgrims try will take some rest and then continue their prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran.
It is preferred for pilgrims to perform shortened but not combined Zuhur (noon), Asr (afternoon), Esha' (evening) prayers in Mina.
On the next day, pilgrims will converge on the Arafat Mount, main pillar of Hajj rituals, and performed shortened and combined Zuhur and Asr (noon and afternoon) prayers at Namirah Mosque in Arafat Holy Mount.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has built a sprawling fire-proof tent city in Mina on an area of 2.5 million square meters to accommodate over 2.6 million pilgrims.
The city hosts more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents made of fiberglass coated with Teflon in order to ensure high resistance to fire.
The tents are segregated into several camps, each has its own exterior wall, and is connected to other camps by pathways. Each camp is equipped with a kitchen, bathrooms, and ablution facilities. Every tent is color-coded by country and number.
Millions of Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj.
One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several rituals, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim - who can financially afford the trip - must perform hajj once in their lifetime. (end)
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