SHOTLIST MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 31, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS HEADING TO MASJID AL HARAM 2. VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS PERFORMING TAWAF AROUND KAABA AT MASJID AL HARAM, CHANTING PRAYS 3. VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS PERFORMING SA'I BY WALKING BETWEEN SAFA AND MARWA HILLS MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 31: As the Hajj pilgrimage nears its climax, Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is experiencing severe overcrowding, with hundreds of thousands of worshippers filling the Grand Mosque day and night. The influx of pilgrims has intensified in recent days as more faithful arrive ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest occasions. Pilgrims, immersed in worship, are spending nearly every hour inside the sacred mosque, performing rituals such as tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba) and sa’i (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa). Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable. This year, over two million worshippers from diverse backgrounds have gathered in Mecca, united in their simple white ihram garments—a symbol of equality and piety in Islam. The Hajj culminates with Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, where Muslims worldwide perform Qurbani (animal sacrifice) in remembrance of Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah. Authorities are managing the dense crowds with increased security and logistical support to ensure pilgrims’ safety.