Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, begins this year on June 4. This is announced by the Saudi supreme court.
Tawfiq al-Rabia, Saudi minister with special responsibility for Hajj, stated on Monday that it had already taken in one million pilgrims waiting to travel the final stretch to Mecca.
Over 1.8 million people participated in last year's Hajj. During the pilgrimage, several different rituals are performed, for example, pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque.
The pilgrimage is one of Islam's five pillars, which form the foundation of the religion. All healthy Muslims who can afford it are expected to make the journey to Mecca in western Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime.
