An estimated 2.3 million pilgrims reassembled in Mina on Tuesday in celebration of the Eid Al-Adha with the rest of the Islamic world, as part of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a 5-day journey to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail — Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible.
According to the General Authority of Statistics (GaStat) and the Saudi Gazette, the total number of pilgrims who performed the Haj this year was 2,371,675 of whom 1,758,722 came from outside and 612,953 were domestic pilgrims.
Incredible images show Muslims across the world celebrating the important festival which coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
