Hajj 2018 Live Stream: How To Watch Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca [VIDEO]

The five-day annual pilgrimage for Muslims called Hajj, which happens during the eighth and the 12th of the month of Dhul Hijjah — the last month of the Islamic calendar — begins this year on the evening of Aug. 19 and ends on the evening of Aug. 24. According to reports Thursday, more than 1.6 million pilgrims from all over the world have already arrived in the city of Mecca to perform the 2018 Hajj.

Eid al Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, represents the end of Hajj, and will most likely be marked in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim majority nations starting evening of Aug. 21. However, dates may vary to Aug. 22 or Aug. 23 depending on the moon sighting. Eid al Adha is marked as a reminder of the time when Prophet Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son at God’s command. On this day, Muslims with the financial means sacrifice an animal such as a sheep, goat or cow.

Below is the live stream from Mecca.

Hajj facts:

1. One of the Five Pillars of Islam, the Hajj is a sacred duty that Muslims must undertake at least once in their lifetime, and the only people exempted from the travel are those who cannot physically endure the journey or are not financially capable.

2. There isn’t any gender segregation at Hajj, unlike other Muslim rites.

3. Hajj rituals include “tawaf,” or the circling of the large Kaaba, and "Sa’ee," where pilgrims walk between two hills – Marwah and Safa – seven times.

4. After Muslims reach Mina, located just outside of Mecca, a ritual called the "stoning of the devil" takes place.

5. Men are required to dress in Ehraam, which is basically two pieces of white sheets they wrap themselves up with.

6. People who have completed the pilgrimage can add the phrase al-Hajj or hajji (pilgrim) to their names.

7. Over 3 million pilgrims performed Hajj in 2017.

8. Thousands of people have died over the years during Hajj due to stampedes.

9. In 2015, a crane used for renovation work inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca fell over and tragically killed over 100 people.

10. The same year, a stampede killed more than 700 people and injured nearly 900 others. The incident occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil."