Millions of Muslims gather for hajj

MINA, Saudi Arabia – Nearly 3 million pilgrims chanting prayers converged Saturday in a valley just outside the holy city of Mecca at the beginning of the 5-day hajj pilgrimage, a lifelong dream for many Muslims.

The pilgrims from about 100 countries left Mecca after completing the first ritual of the hajj by circling the sacred Kaaba stone structure seven times inside the Grand Mosque, which Muslims all over the world face during their five daily prayers.

Dressed in white robes, pilgrims piled into and on top of buses on their way to a ritual of prayer and reflection in Mina, 3 miles east of Mecca.

The journey caused massive traffic jams on roads to Mina, where pilgrims will spend the night in white, fireproof tents. Some pilgrims chose to walk the route.

The hajj, packed with symbolism and ritual, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can financially afford to must perform it at least once in his or her lifetime.

Saudi Arabia has deployed some 100,000 security personnel to keep order during the hajj. Thousands of them patrolled the route to Mina on foot and in vehicles.

The high point of the pilgrimage comes today with prayers at Mount Arafat, a gentle hill about 12 miles east of Mecca where Islam’s Prophet Mohammed is said to have given his last sermon 14 centuries ago. Muslims believe that the last passage of their holy book, the Quran, was revealed to Mohammed during this sermon.