Millions of Muslims have gathered in Mecca, marking the beginning of the five-day Hajj pilgrimage—the world's largest annual religious gathering. It is year 1446 in the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims are expected to retrace the steps of the Prophet Muhammad,

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims clambered up rocks and nestled between boulders on Thursday as they embarked on a day of worship under a scorching sun at the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

“When we didn’t have anything, people helped us with our horses, with our food, they gave us money. When our assistance car got broken, they fixed it for us,” Harkassi said.