Hawzah News Agency (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) - After preliminary rituals this week at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the pilgrims started moving eastwards to Mina.

The over two million pilgrims will gather there before setting off on Thursday at dawn to climb Mount Arafat.

According to Abdul Rahman al-Mayuf, a Saudi public transportation official, the first group of Hajjis left Mecca for Mina at 5 P.M. on Tuesday, Eram News reported.

Thursday will mark the Day of Arafat, the 9^th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic calendar. It comes one day before Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice).

The worshipers are following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who performed the same rituals about 1,400 years ago.

Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that every able-bodied and financially able Muslim is obliged to undertake at least once during their lifetime.