World | Updated Dec 17, 2007 at 12:03pm IST

Saudi Arabia gives Hajj pilgrims a warm welcome

Isha Sesay, CNN

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia): The five-day Haj ritual begins from Monday.

The Muslim faithful from all over the world are ready to perform the Haj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

But before arriving in the birthplace of Islam, many pilgrims making by transit here in 'pilgrims city,' at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Each pilgrim will receive a booklet in their native language, to guide them through performing the Hajj rituals. They will then be ushered into one of the 18 holding areas where their travel and health documents are checked.

Pilgrims from Iran, Germany, India, and Bangladesh have been sitting in orderly lines, waiting patiently.

With members of the Saudi Air force highly visible, there have been are no scenes of pushing and shoving.

"We get to experience a new thing everyday. We learn from our mistakes to give more service - very nice service to the guests of Allah,” says Hajj and Umra Operations manager, Sami Badr

Still, nothing ever really goes exactly according to plan.

"It is very good, but the flight of Saudi was about eight hours late,” says a Haj pilgrim.

It takes the pilgrims an average two hours to clear immigration, customs and security checks. And once that's over, they will be released into the heart of pilgrims' city.

More than two million people will come together in Mecca for the Hajj that begins on Monday.

People of different races, ethnicities, men, women, the very old and the young will all be on a spiritual journey.

But once there in Islam’s holiest city, the differences will melt away, and all that will matter is their faith.

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