The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Hundreds of pilgrims yesterday arrived in Mecca, heralding the start of the Hajj pilgrimage, which this year will allow only a select 60,000 people. Hundreds of Muslims arrived at the al-Zaidi station in Mecca, where 1,770 buses took them to the Kaaba’s courtyards after checking their permits.
After being loaded on buses and brought to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, pilgrims began performing the “tawaf”, the circumambulation of the Kaaba.
Many carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching summer heat.
“Every three hours, 6,000 people enter to perform the tawaf of arrival,” hajj ministry spokesman Hisham al-Saeed said.