Once a year, Muslim pilgrims flowing into Saudi Arabia unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam.

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Here’s when it begins and ends, and why it’s important to Muslims.

What is Hajj? Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.

The Hajj is a significant Islamic pilgrimage where Muslims perform religious rituals and acts of worship in Saudi Arabia.

What is Hajj and why is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca important to Muslims? Faithfuls attending this year's Hajj will have to contend with excess heat, a ban on children under the age of 12 and ...

What is Hajj and why is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca important to Muslims? Faithfuls attending this year's Hajj will have to contend with excess heat, a ban on children under the age of 12 and ...

Saudi Arabia's Hajj overhaul includes policy updates and high-tech safety measures following last year's heat deaths.

A video posted on the Hajj on Horseback Instagram account showing Tarek Rodriguez, left, and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha in Slovenia during their journey from Spain to Saudi Arabia.

According to Islamic tradition, shaving the head after Hajj is a powerful symbol of humility, purification, and renewal. Pilgrims believe it marks the end of a transformative journey.

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HAJJ TO MUSLIMS? For pilgrims, performing Hajj fulfills a religious obligation, but it’s also a deeply spiritual experience of a lifetime for many.

What is Hajj and why is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca important to Muslims? Faithfuls attending this year's Hajj will have to contend with excess heat, a ban on children under the age of 12 and ...