Hajj: The cyclone of pilgrims circling the Mecca

The ongoing hajj pilgrimage that began on June 26 is the largest in history. As coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place since 2020 have been fully relaxed, over two million white-robed pilgrims are

Jun 28, 2023, 17:11 IST1 min

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A child among the pilgrims in Mount Arafat, where all pilgrims pray from noon to dusk as part of a set of rites of Hajj. Saudi Arabia on June 27, 2023. Every year, Saudi Arabia sets country-wise quotas, determining the total number of pilgrims who can journey from any country.

Image by Elif Ozturk Ozgoncu/Anadolu via Getty Images

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Hordes of Syrian amputees rest inside their tent near Mount Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023. Thousands of civilians who lost their limbs in the Syrian conflict and devastating earthquake have journeyed to the holy shrine.

Image by Aaref Watad / AFP

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During the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a Muslim worshipper touches the Kaaba, Islam"s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on June 24, 2023. The voyage is also a big revenue earner for Saudi Arabia, the world"s largest oil exporter, trying to diversify its economy by encouraging tourism.

Image by Sajjad Hussain / AFP