More than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims began on Friday the rites of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, leaving the holy city of Makkah for Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final Hajj sermon. Dressed in white, they flooded the streets as they headed towards Mina, around five kilometres east of the holy mosque.
The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) Day, as pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometres further on. Many pilgrims took buses, while others set off on foot for a village that comes to life for just five days a year. Others were using the Mashair Railway, also known as Mecca Metro, to go to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains where they will gather for the peak Day of Arafat on Saturday.
The Chinese-built railway will operate for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion's and prevent stampedes in which hundreds have been killed in past years. The dual-track light railway connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat. It will replace 30,000 cars previously used, said project director Fahd Abu-Tarbush.
"The train this year is restricted to the pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, as well as 200,000 pilgrims coming from south Asia," Tarbush told AFP. "Mashair Railway will transport 500,000 pilgrims from Mina, passing by Muzdalifah, reaching to Arafat, in addition to one million pilgrims on the Tashreeq days," which are on the 11th, 12th and 13th of Zilhij. Around 1.7 million Muslims descended on Makkah from around the world while between 700,000 and 800,000 pilgrims are coming from inside Saudi Arabia. The Hajj will end on Sunday with Eid al-Azha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.