2 million Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia after COVID restrictions lifted.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage has officially begun in Saudi Arabia, with around 2 million Muslim pilgrims expected to participate. This is the first time the pilgrimage has returned to full capacity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a deeply moving spiritual experience for pilgrims. The rituals during Hajj largely commemorate the Quran's accounts of Ibrahim, his son Ismail, and Ismail's mother Hajar. The final three days of the Hajj coincide with the festive Eid al-Adha holiday.