Dhaka, June 4 -- Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia have entered the formal stages of Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, as they began their journey to Mina dressed in seamless white garments known as Ihram.

Among them are 86,958 Bangladeshis who, like others from around the world, reached Mina early on Wednesday after Fajr prayers, before the time for Zuhr.

As they walked, many chanted "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik".

The Hajj is mandatory at least once in a lifetime for every financially and physically able Muslim.

This year, nearly 1.47 million international devotees have arrived in Saudi Arabia, and with locals included, the total is expected to reach around 2 million.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Dhaka, the vast plai...