Muslim pilgrims throng to Saudi holy site for hajj

MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Nearly 2 million Muslims Sunday headed to Mount Arafat near the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to mark the peak of the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Saudi authorities tightened security across the holy sites for the five-day Hajj that started on Saturday to prevent the recurrence of a stampede that caused hundreds of deaths last year.

White-robed pilgrims set off for Mount Arafat at sunrise from the valley of Mina, about 4 miles northeast of Mecca.

Last year, 769 pilgrims died in a stampede during the stone-throwing hajj ritual, according to the Saudi government. Independent reports, however, put the death toll around 2,000.

Sunday’s hajj participants included 1.3 million Muslims from 164 countries.

Muslims are expected to perform the hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, at least once in their lifetimes if they are fit enough and have the financial means to do so.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims pray Sunday outside Namira Mosque in Arafat, on the second and most significant day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.