BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Picture Gallery: Mecca pilgrimage

BBC News Online: World: Middle East

Wednesday, 20 February, 2002, 17:33 GMT

Picture Gallery: Mecca pilgrimage

About two million Muslim pilgrims have begun the annual rites of the hajj.

The event began without incident, but tight security was in place, with the Saudi authorities warning that they would not tolerate any attempt to exploit the event for political purposes.

Pilgrims leave the grand mosque in Mecca to make the short journey to Mount Arafat

Pilgrims talk on telephones in the holy city of Mecca

Saudi men deliver sheep to the meat market in Riyadh

A Muslim pilgrim prays near the grand mosque, reflected in a window behind him

A pilgrim browses at a newspaper stand in Mecca

Thousands of Muslims gather at a mosque during evening prayer in Mecca

Related to this story:
Muslims mass for Hajj (20 Feb 02 | Middle East) Imams call for trouble-free Hajj (15 Feb 02 | Middle East) Eye-scanners installed for Hajj security (08 Feb 02 | Middle East) Afghan pilgrims get airlift for Hajj (18 Feb 02 | South Asia) 40 die in Saudi Hajj crash (13 Feb 02 | Middle East) Hajj perils, ancient and modern (05 Mar 01 | Middle East) Pilgrims gather for Hajj (28 Feb 01 | Middle East) What is the Hajj? (10 Feb 00 | Middle East)

Internet links: Hajj Information Centre | Hajj Information | Saudi Arabia Information Resource |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites