Pilgrims gather in Makkah as Hajj season begins - in pictures

Annual pilgrimage takes place during the Islamic calendar month of Dhu Al Hijjah

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  Pilgrims pray upon their arrival in Mina, near Islam's holy city of Makkah. AFP

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  A view of Mina, 'the city of tents', south-east of Makkah. AFP

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  Pilgrims walk round the Kaaba, the sacred cube-shaped building at the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, as they arrive to perform the Hajj. Reuters

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  Hajj pilgrims gather on the Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat, outside the holy city of Makkah. Reuters

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  A member of security staff sprays water to help a pilgrim stay cool in Mina, as temperatures passed 40°C. AFP

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  Pilgrims walking through the Grand Mosque. Photo: Hajj Ministry

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  Pilgrims in front of the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque. AP

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  Pilgrims walk around the Kaaba, the sacred cube-shaped building at the centre of the Grand Mosque. AP

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  Nigerian pilgrims outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP

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  Sudanese pilgrim Um Safaa, who came from Port Sudan for the Hajj, outside the Grand Mosque. AP

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  Afghan Hajj pilgrims wait outside the Grand Mosque, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP

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  A pigeon flies by as Iranian pilgrims pose for a selfie outside the Grand Mosque. AP

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  A woman visits Mount Al Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammed received the first words of the Quran in the Hira cave, in Makkah. Reuters

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  Worshippers perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque. Reuters

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  Muslim worshippers and pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, in the holy city of Makkah, as they arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

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  A worshipper uses his phone to film the crowd of pilgrims around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque. AFP

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  The annual pilgrimage takes place during Dhu Al Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. AFP

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  Muslim pilgrims circumambulate anti-clockwise around the Kaaba. Seven complete circuits constitute Tawaf, one of the principal rites of Hajj. AP

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  A general view of the Grand Mosque is seen from the Clock Tower during the Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Makkah. AP

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  The Kiswa, the cloth used to cover the Kaaba, and the Kaaba's gold doors underneath. The Kiswa is draped every year on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. AFP

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  Pilgrims perform prayers at the Grand Mosque. AFP

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  Muslims pray around the Kaaba. AFP

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  A Muslim worshipper touches the Kaaba. AFP

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  Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AFP

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  A pilgrim performs prayers. AFP

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  Ministry of Hajj and Umrah officials have asked people to take precautions due to the heat. AFP

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  The ministry will guide pilgrims on the etiquette and rituals of Hajj as part of the 'Proclaim to the People' initiative. AFP

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