he pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, required for Muslims at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able to do it.
Volunteers handed out bottles of water, parasols and food packages to the tens of thousands of pilgrims as they made their way toward Mount Arafat, as helicopters buzzed overhead.
Temperatures have hit highs of 44 degrees Celsius in Mecca in recent days, prompting Saudi authorities to urge pilgrims to protect themselves from the sun during the mostly outdoor rituals.