RIYADH: Clad in white seamless cloth, about two million (20 lakh) Muslims  from across the world including Bangladesh will perform the holy Hajj on Friday.

Since the main Hajj day falls on the day of Jumma this year, the pilgrims are going to get Hajj-e-Akbar, which carries special significance.

On Thursday, chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (O God, here I am answering your call) and Allahu Akbar (God is Great), some two million pilgrims from different parts of the world moved from the holy city of Mecca to nearby Mina marking the beginning of the annual Haj pilgrimage.

Wearing the ihram or the two-piece seamless white cloth, the pilgrims began moving to the tent-city of Mina in groups, located 5 km to the east of Mecca.

Among the first group of pilgrims to arrive in Mina were Bangladeshis, Indians and Pakistanis.

Emotional scenes were witnessed in Mina as on arrival many pilgrims could not control tears and many continued to thank Allah for making it possible for them to perform Hajj.

The pilgrims will offer Kasr prayers five times and stay there till Friday morning. After Fazr prayer on Friday, they will be heading for Arafat Maidan.

On Friday, the pilgrims will listen Khutba of Hajj and offer Jumma and Asar prayers together.

They will leave Arafat Maidan for Muzdalifa after the sun sets in the evening.

Reaching Muzdalifa, the pilgrims will offer Magreb and Esha prayers together. They will collect small stones to throw at devil. After passing the night under the open sky at Muzdalifa, the pilgrims will be heading for Jamarah after the sunrise on Saturday to throw stones at devil.

The pilgrims will throw seven big stones at devil at Jamaratul Aqaba before the sun tilts toward the west. After throwing stones at Jamaratul Aqaba, the pilgrims will slaughter sacrificial animals. After that they will shave their heads and wear their dresses opening the Ihram. It is called Tahallul-e-Asgar.

Later, they will perform Tawaf-e-Ifada (Tawaf of Kaaba) and Saii (moving seven times at Safa-Marwa), and then return to Mina.

On Sunday and Monday (Zilhajj 11 and 12), the pilgrims will stay at Mina and throw stones at small, medium and large Jamara, left Mina before sun sets on Monday.

Most pilgrims embarked on the journey onboard buses arranged by their respective Hajj missions and the Saudi government but some others preferred moving on foot.

People are spending their time reciting the Quran, praying and discussing matters related to the pilgrimage. Some pilgrims, including many elderly, were also resting after the trek on foot.

The annual Haj pilgrimage has so far been incident-free.