Makkah

Here is a look at the hajj, one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, which starts in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

SpiceJet to operate 37 special flights between India and Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrims

"The special flights from Srinagar will depart for Medina between June 5 and June 20. Return flights from Jeddah to Srinagar are scheduled from July 15 to July 31," the airline's statement said.

Saudi Arabia suspends entry for pilgrims over coronavirus

The government is "suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of Umrah and visiting the Prophet's Mosque temporarily", the foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year.

Saudi Arabia increases India's Haj quota by 5,000: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

The increase in India's quota will be effective from Haj to be held later this year. Saudi Arabia last year increased India's quota by 35,000. In 2017, the Haj quota was 1,70,025.

More than 1.7 million Muslims gather for start of hajj

At the start of hajj today, pilgrims began circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca and carrying out rites believed to trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible.