Worshippers walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, July 20.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Image

In pictures: Pandemic limits Hajj pilgrimage

Updated 5:42 PM ET, Thu July 22, 2021

Worshippers walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, July 20.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Image

Thousands of Muslim worshippers are gathering for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam. For the second year in a row, the event has been transformed by the global pandemic.

Normally around 2 million Muslims descend on Mecca for the Hajj, but this year only about 60,000 are expected to attend. Saudi authorities have mandated that worshippers be fully vaccinated, and nonresident foreigners are barred from making the pilgrimage.

Performing the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Able-bodied Muslims are required to perform the five-day-long ritual at least once in their lives.

A Muslim pilgrim takes part in the symbolic stoning of the devil Tuesday while he practices social distancing in Mina.
Amr Nabil/AP
Saudi police officers stand guard as people walk around the Kaaba on Tuesday.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
Muslims pray at the Namira Mosque on Monday.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
A pilgrim prays at Mount Arafat on Monday.
Amr Nabil/AP
Thousands of pilgrims leave after prayers at the Namira Mosque on Monday.
Amr Nabil/AP
Saudi police guard the entrance to Mount Arafat on Monday.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
A pilgrim walks in a corridor of a tent camp as a doctor works in a camp clinic in Mina on Sunday.
Amr Nabil/AP
Pilgrims pray in front of the Al-Safa mountain at the Grand Mosque on Sunday.
Amr Nabil/AP
Workers at the Grand Mosque disinfect the grounds around the Kaaba on Saturday.
Amr Nabil/AP
A woman receives calls July 14 at the National Center for Security Operations in Mecca.
Amr Nabil/AP