Hundreds of thousands of Muslims began a mass movement Thursday out of the holy city of Makkah towards nearby Mina in western Saudi Arabia, at the launch of the annual hajj pilgrimage.
A pillar of the Islamic faith, this year’s hajj comes with Saudi authorities striving to protect pilgrims from two deadly viruses, Ebola and the MERS coronavirus.
It is also taking place against the backdrop of widespread revulsion among Muslims towards Islamic State group jihadists.
Saudi Arabia and four other Arab nations have joined Washington in air strikes in Syria against the militants, who have declared a “caliphate “straddling that country and Iraq where they have committed a spate of atrocities.
Authorities say close to 1.4 million believers have come from abroad to follow the 1,400-year-old tradition of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), alongside pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
“It is a beautiful feeling,” said Aziza Yousfy, 60, from Algeria, before leaving Mecca.
Seeing nearby Mina Valley and Mount Arafat “has always been a dream for me”, she said.
Mount Arafat is where Prophet Mohammed gave his final sermon, after leading his followers on the hajj.
Sayed Tajamul Haq, 64, an Indian pilgrim walking with his wife, voiced hope that “God will accept our prayers for forgiveness and mercy”, during an experience he described with a smile as “fantastic”.
The Arab News reported that a recent French convert to Islam had driven 7,000 kilometres (4,340 miles) from North Africa to take part in the hajj.
Pilgrims were moving a few kilometres (miles) from Makkah to nearby Mina by bus or on foot on Thursday.
Men wear a seamless two-piece white garment, symbolising a state of purity and emphasising their unity regardless of social status or nationality.
Women also generally wear white, exposing only their faces and hands.
The passage to Mina marks the official start of the hajj on the eighth day of the Muslim calendar month of Dhul Hijja.
In Mina, they will pray and rest before moving on to Mount Arafat for the climax of the pilgrimage rituals on Friday.