Haj begins in Saudi Arabia - in pictures

Pilgrims walk on a road ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

Pilgrims touch Islam’s holiest shrine, the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Mecca. MOhammed Al-Shaikh / AFP

Pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

All able-bodied Muslims are required in Islam to perform the Haj once in a lifetime. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

Pilgrims begin the Haj in Mecca, before heading to the nearby tent city of Mina. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

Pilgrims wait for bus ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

More than 2 million Muslims have begun the first rites of the annual Haj pilgrimage, which draws people from around the world to Mecca. Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

A Muslim pilgrim uses an electric wheelchair to circle the Kaaba in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

Eighty per cent of international pilgrims come in official Haj delegations from their countries. The other 20 per cent come with tourism companies. Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

About 100,000 police have been deployed to secure the hajj, maintain safety of pilgrims, and manage traffic and crowds. Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

More than 2 million Muslims have started the first rites of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, which draws people from around the world to the holy city of Mecca to perform a series of rituals and prayers aimed at erasing past sins.