Maldives Hajj Corporation says Maldivian Hajj pilgrims have begun the journey to the tent city of Mina, officially kicking off the Hajj rites.
Hajj Corporation shared photos of the pilgrims getting on buses that would take them to Mina where they will spend the night in the tents allocated for them.
Hajj Corporation said that all the Maldivian pilgrims were healthy.
Staying in Mina is one of the main Pillars of the Hajj Pilgrimage and they will stay there in their state of Ihram before embarking on their journey to the Mount of Arafat on Tuesday which is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah generally known as Hajj Day.
All pilgrims must reach the Mount of Arafat before the sundown of Hajj day or else their Hajj will be void.
After a day of spiritual reflection on the Mount of Arafat, the Pilgrims would subsequently move to Muzadalifah where they will spend the night in the open.
More than 2.5 million Muslims are expected to take part, as coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place since 2020 have been fully relaxed.
That year, just 10,000 people were permitted to participate; 59,000 in 2021; and last year there was a cap of one million people.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted the Maldives 1000 Hajj quotas this year.
