Muslims begin major Hajj ritual

Some two million pilgrims have started to move from the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to nearby Mina to begin the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The pilgrims on Sunday started their way for Mina by road, by train or on foot in a bid to pray and rest before moving on to Mount Arafat on Monday for the climax of the pilgrimage rituals.

The men are required to wear the seamless two-piece garment and the women should cover up themselves, except faces and hands.

More than 100,000 troops have been deployed to Mecca to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia decided to reduce the number of pilgrims by 1.75 million this year because of fears of the deadly MERS virus, which has claimed the lives of dozens of people in Saudi Arabia.

All the pilgrims who enter Mecca should undertake a minor Hajj before performing their major Hajj, which began on October 13.

The major Hajj is performed during a five-day period from the 8th through the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim lunar calendar.

The Hajj pilgrimage is obligatory for all Muslims once in their lifetime if they are able both physically and financially. The teachings of Hajj are also very significant. Muslims remember that they are not joined together on the basis of color or race.