Millions of Muslim pilgrims gathered in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform core rites of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The scale of the event underscores the logistical and spiritual significance of the pilgrimage, which draws the global Muslim community to the holiest sites in Islam.
New timelapse footage captures the immense crowds in Mina and Mecca during the first day of Eid al-Adha, May 27, 2026. The visuals document the Tawaf, where pilgrims circle the Kaaba, and the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina.
Reports said that more than 1.5 million [1] pilgrims participated in the stoning ritual in Mina. This specific rite is a central part of the Hajj experience, representing a rejection of temptation and evil.
In Mecca, separate footage shows around 1.6 million [2] pilgrims gathered ahead of the Hajj rituals. The timelapse illustrates the continuous flow of people around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the center of the Great Mosque.
The movement of such vast numbers of people requires significant coordination by Saudi authorities to ensure safety and order. The stoning ritual in Mina is often one of the most crowded moments of the pilgrimage, requiring precise crowd management to prevent accidents.
These rituals are performed annually as part of the religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey. The combination of the stoning in Mina and the circling of the Kaaba marks the culmination of the spiritual journey for those attending this year.
“More than 1.5 million pilgrims participated in the stoning ritual in Mina.”
The concentration of millions of people in a small geographic area like Mina and Mecca presents one of the world's most complex crowd-control challenges. The use of timelapse footage provides a visual metric of the density and flow of the pilgrimage, highlighting the intersection of ancient religious tradition and modern urban management in Saudi Arabia.
