Travel Forum - Traveler Mania

Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to   Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Press Agency said that a record number of   Muslims were expected to make the Hajj this year - over 3.4 million   anticipated over the five days of the pilgrimage. One of the pillars of   Islamic faith, the Hajj must be carried out at least once in their   lifetime by any Muslim who has the ability to do so. Pilgrims perform a   series of rituals including walking around the Kaaba, standing vigil on   Mount Arafat and a ritual Stoning of the Devil. At the end of the Hajj,   on November 16th, the three day festival of Eid al-Adha begins around   the world.

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A   general view shows the Saudi holy city of Mecca, as seen from the top   of Noor mountain, late on November 13, 2010. (MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty   Images) #

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An   Indian Hajj pilgrim holds prayer beads prior to his departure for Mecca   at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad,   India on October 26, 2010. (SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Saudi   special forces show their skills during a military parade in   preparation for the Hajj in the Saudi city of Mecca on November 10,   2010. (MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Saudi   workers load carboys of "zamzam" water containers at the Zamazemah   United Office in Mecca, on November 7, 2010. According to Islamic   belief, zamzam is a miraculously-generated source of water from God,   which began thousands of years ago when Abraham's infant son Ishmael was   thirsty and crying for water and discovered a well by kicking the   ground. Millions of pilgrims visit the well each year while performing   the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water. (MUSTAFA   OZER/AFP/Getty Images) #