The annual Hajj is underway, in which Muslims make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. This year, it runs from December 7-11.
Update: The crowd is bigger than expected, with up to three million people showing up.
So far, no major problems have developed organisers said, although a record number of people have come from outside Saudi Arabia for the event and media say the total number of participants may reach three million.
Source: google.com
Keep an eye on the media page for this story, as we have some great firsthand photos.
Leaving the tent city of Mina early on Sunday, the pilgrims gathered for a day of reflection and prayer at the foot of Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad gave his farewell sermon
Source: english.aljazeera.net
For the first time, the authorities have brought in sophisticated United States-built helicopters to guard against possible attack during the world's largest pilgrimage, which has often been blighted by tragedy.
About two million Muslims are expected join the annual ritual, which this year begins on Saturday, including several hundred thousand Saudis and residents of the kingdom and at least 1,6-million from other countries.
In past years fires and deadly stampedes have cast a cloud over the event.
US-made Sikorsky S-92 helicopters fitted with sophisticated technology such as night-vision binoculars are available to security forces for the first time amid the spectre of attacks that have haunted Saudi Arabia in recent years.
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