Over 2 million Muslims leave for Mina as Hajj rituals start

ISLAMABAD – Over two million Muslims from across the world have gathered in Makkah Mukarramah for Hajj rituals, which are starting from today in Saudi Arabia. This year, the annual pilgrimage has become increasingly hi-tech with apps to help the faithful navigate Islam’s holiest sites. Saudi authorities are pushing a “smart hajj” initiative to meet with the growing demands of Hajj, which coincide with the kingdom’s unprecedented modernization drive. Every Muslim is required to complete the hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do so. The annual pilgrimage sees the Muslim faithful gather in Makkah, all clad in white, to perform rituals around the black Kaaba cube. The hajj also features a symbolic stoning of the devil ceremony, marking the start of Eid al-Adha, a three-day feast. The ritual symbolizes Hazrat Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Hazrat Ismail, on the order of Allah.