Fotot e mahnitshme nga Meka

Një turmë masive prej 2 milionë myslimanësh qëndron në një luginë të gjerë suaidte përpara se të shkosh në qytet, të grumbulluar nën këmbët e Malit Arafat me rastin e pelegrinazhit të përvitshëm të Haxhit.

Turma e pelegrinëve të stërmunduar është aq e madhe sa që forcat saudite të sigurisë janë detyruar të krijojnë një zinxhir njerëzor përgjatë rrugëve të luginës së madhe të Arafatit teksa uji i ftohtë lëshohej nga disa dushe të posaçme mbi turmën, për t’i freskuar nga i nxehti i tmerrshëm.

Shumë prej besimtarëve nga anembanë botës qëndrojnë në një kamp nën malin Arafat ku ata flenë dhe falen – pavarësisht diellit përvëlues – në vendin ku Profeti Muhamed besohet se ka dhënë prediki min e tij të fundit fetar.

Water vapour sprays down from metal pipes to cool the crowds of tens of thousands of Muslims during their day of prayers at Arafat todat On the move: Millions of Muslim pilgrims set off before dawn today to make their way to a day of prayer at the foot of Mount Arafat Many of the faithful from around the globe camped at the foot of Mount Arafat where they slept and prayed despite the scorching sun at the spot where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon Taking in the view: Huge numbers were up and about before first light ahead of a day of prayer on the Plain of Arafat - about nine miles from Mecca Global gathering: They walked from dawn in massive crowds towards the slippery, rocky hill which is also known as Mount Mercy Tens of thousands of Muslims defied the scorching sun to perform prayers in Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage today Many reached Arafat by bus while some walked from the holy city of Mecca about nine miles away. Along the way, volunteers handed out boxes of food and cold water bottles Many carried colourful umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they performed their prayers this morning with hundreds of thousands of others A wagon filled with fruit is stationed in the middle of a huge crowd of pilgrims as they worship at the foot of Mount Arafat Pilgrims believe that thi was the spot where Mohammed gave his final sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on Hajj This year's gathering is about the same size as last year's, with 1.4 million foreign pilgrims joining hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of the kingdom A day to remember: Two pilgrims used a selfie stick as they pictured themselves near Mount Arafat before dawn this morning After sunset on Wednesday they will move to Muzdalifah where there they will gather pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual For many pilgrims, it is the spiritual highlight of their lives. Islam requires all able-bodied Muslims to perform the Hajj once in a lifetime Global gathering: Each year huge crowds are drawn to Mecca to carry out a series of rituals and prayers aimed at erasing past sins Pictures show newly-arrived pilgrims circling the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped structure in Mecca's Grand Mosque toward which all Muslims pray Once in a lifetime: Saudi officials have also invested in expensive infrastructure, including a new urban railway, to ferry pilgrims around safely During the Hajj, pilgrims shed symbols of worldly materialism, entering a state known as 'ihram' - women forgo makeup and perfume for loose fitted clothing and a head-covering while men wear seamless terry cloth white garments A Muslim pilgrim cries while praying at the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, during the annual Pilgrimage, known as Hajj A Muslim pilgrim uses an electric wheelchair to circle the Kaaba. The Hajj requires physical perseverance, finances and a coveted Hajj visa, which is limited to country-by-country quotas to manage crowd safety In Mecca, they circle the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times, and also re-enact the path of Hagar, the wife of the patriarch Abraham, who Muslims believe ran between two hills searching for water for her dying young son Muslim pilgrims pray while touching the Kaaba. Saudi authorities deploy 100,000 police and vast numbers of stewards to ensure safety and help those who lose their way

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