Makkah, June 3 -- Hundreds of thousands of Haj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, started performing on Tuesday evening, June 3, the ritual of Tawaf Al-Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival), before moving into Mina to mark the beginning of the annual pilgrimage of Haj on Wednesday, June 4.

Upon entering the state of ihram, pilgrims perform the first tawaf - the ritual circling of the Kaaba - marking their formal arrival in the holy city.

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On Tuesday night, pilgrims began their journey to Mina, approximately five kilometres from the Grand Mosque, where they will spend the Day of Tarwiyah in their tents. This day is dedicated to supplication and prayer in preparation for the peak of the pilgrimage.

Following th...