Hajj, Pilgrimage to Mecca when Millions Worship in Unison

What exactly is it that goes on in Mecca? As a non muslim looking on it appears to be an event, or more correctly a pilgrimage, a worship en masse, bigger then any other in the world. And it happens every year.
Well the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj just announced that Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca (or Makkah), will start on November 14th. The Ministry of Hajj have a very detailed website for all the procedures taking place.
"Hajj" means literally "to set out for a place". For a Muslim, that place is the Holy City of Mecca. We have put together pictures in chronological order, starting on day 1 through day 6 on what exactly goes on and why. [49 Pictures]

1

Kaaba in Mecca - people performing Tawaf (circumambulating) the Kaaba. This picture taken from the gate of Abdul Aziz seems to divide the Kaaba and the minarets into mirror images of one another. (Wikipedia/Muhammad Mahdi Karim).

2

Map of where Hajj takes place.

Hajj takes between 4 to 6 days to complete, and must be performed according strict rules of conduct.

Miqat, Mecca, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, Mecca in that order.

Note: the numbers on the map do not reflect the days. (CC Wikipedia).

Day 1, Miqats: The pilgrims enters at one of the five Miqats (entry points). They put on the Ihram garnet and express their intention to perform Hajj.
In Mecca, they perform the welcome Tawaf (circle the Kaaba seven times) and Sa'y (passing seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwah) before they go to Mina.
In Mina they perform five prayers starting with noon prayer ending with dawn on the day of Arafat.

Day 2 Arafat: When the pilgrims reach Arafat they devote as much time as possible for prayer. When sun sets they leave Arafat for Muzdalifah.
In Muzdalifah they stay nuder the open sky with evening prayer and stay over night. They collect small pebbles for the "stoning" ceremony (ramy), At dawn they pray and then, before sun has risen they set off for Mina.

Day 3, Mina: Pilgrims perform the stoning of the devil, then proceed to Masjid al Haram in Mecca to perform Tawaf al-ifadha.
In Mecca the Tawaf is performed (the Kaaba is circled seven times followed by prayer. Then they again perform Sa'y between Safa and Marwah.
The Pilgrims then drink from the well of Zamzam before they return to Mina.

Day 4-5-6: The Pilgrims stay in Mina for two or three days. At Mina they again stone the three pillars in set order. Some return to Masjid al Haram to perform a farewell Tawaf.

3

The large structure in the form of a huge Koran book signifies the miqat or city limits of Mecca (Makkah), Islam's holiest city. Non-Muslims in Jeddah will not get to see this in person as they would have taken the bypass route at least two kilometers away before where this structure stands. Saudi law prohibits non-Muslims from entering Mecca. (CC Acizane Nacizane ).

4

Pilgrims prepare to depart to Mina, to begin Hajj, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

5

Pilgrims entering Mina, to begin Hajj, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

6

Pilgrim camp at Mina, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

7

Camps in Mina are divided by country, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

8

Hard weather will not stop anyone on Hajj, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

9

Mina's sprawling tent city, Nov. 29, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

10

White tents as far as the eye can see, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

11

Pilgrims at Mina at night, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

12

Pilgrims head to the 'mountain of mercy', Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

13

Millions of Pilgrims walk to worship.

14

Millions gather at Mount Arafat

15

A sea of pilgrims, Thousands of pilgrims crowd Mount Arafat and the surrounding area , Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

16

Praying at Arafat, Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

17

Worship at Mt Arafat, Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

18

Hajj pilgrims leaving Arafat in droves for Muzdalifah at sunset, Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

19

Slipping out of Muzdalifah in the dead of night to get early start on 3rd day of Hajj - roads are packed, Nov. 26, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

20

Small Jamarah up first, Nov. 27, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

21

Stoning of the devil, 2006 (CC Wikipedia/Amellie).

22

Stoning of the Devil in Mina, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

23

PThe Jamarat bridge from the air, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

24

The Jamarat bridge, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

25

Stoning of the Devil, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

26

Stoning the Jamarat at sunset, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

27

The expanded Jamarat bridge, Nov. 25, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

28

Jamarat and the Devil, Nov. 27, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

29

Exiting the Jamarat bridge, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

30

Constant rush at KFC in Mecca, Nov. 24, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

31

Worshippers throng the streets and areas outside the Haram, or Grand mosque, in Mecca during afternoon prayer., Nov. 19, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

32

Worshipers in the millions mean that the streets fill up with trash in no time, Nov. 24, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

33

Outside the Grand Mosque, Oct. 13, 2010 (special permission from 'asyiqul^huur).

34

Hajj Public Security control room, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

35

Keeping count of worshipers, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

36

In transit during Hajj, Nov. 28, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

37

Pilgrims on the roof of the Grand mosque, Nov. 29, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

38

The Haram Sharif, Nov. 29, 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

39

The scene in Mecca (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

40

Performing Tawaf 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

41

The Kaaba's golden door 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

42

The black stone on the Kaaba, 2006 (CC Wikipedia).

43

Inside the Kaaba.

44

The Well of Zamzam, 2008 (CC Wikipedia).

45

Zamzam sign (special permission from 'asyiqul^huur).

46

Inside Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque, Oct. 20, 2010 (special permission from 'asyiqul^huur).

47

Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram (CC Wikipedia).

48

Worshippers flood the Grand mosque, its roof, and all the areas around it during night prayers in Mecca. 2009 (special permission from Omar Chatriwala).

49

Mecca Royal Clock Hotel Tower, Oct. 22, 2010 (special permission from 'asyiqul^huur).