Hawzah News Agency - (Mecca - Saudi Arabia) - Around two million Muslim pilgrims on Friday converged on Saudi Arabia's Mina Valley outside Mecca to begin the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Pilgrims coming from all over the world will spend one day and one night in prayer before setting out for Mt. Arafat located some 12 kilometers (around 8 miles) from Mecca on Saturday morning for the spiritual journey's climax.

They will then return to Mina after spending the night in the Muzdalifah area on the route between Mt. Arafat and Mina.

The Hajj ritual is the “fifth pillar” of the Islamic faith, one that must be performed by Muslims -- if financially viable -- at least once.