The Hajj Begins Today

And proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine,
That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that He hath bestowed upon them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor unfortunate.
Then let them make an end of their unkemptness and pay their vows and go around the ancient House.
—Qur'an, Sura 22 (Al-Hajj) 27-29

Today is the 8th of Dhu'l-Hijja 1433 in the Muslim calendar, and at Mecca it is the first official day of the Hajj. It is traditionally known as Yawm al-Tarwiyya, the day of "watering," because in earlier times the pilgrims, after the initial rituals in Mecca, stocked up on water for the encampment at Mina, which then had no water supplies.

The Hajj remains the largest religious ritual held at a single time for a single purpose,prior to the opening of this year's Hajj at least 1.7 million pilgrims had already arrived. Hajj Mabrur (May your Hajj be accepted) to the pilgrims.