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Hajj pilgrims at Arafath on November 15, 2010.

Muslims perform Baraat Az Mushrikeen during Hajj Pilgrimage of 2010

Around two million white-robed Muslims converged Monday at Mount Arafat as the hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage, peaked at the site of the Prophet Mohammed's last sermon.

A short film on the Hajj Rituals

Nearly three million pilgrims on Monday were heading for Mount Arafat, just outside the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, on the second day of the Hajj, the pilgrimage undertaken by many Muslims.

From all corners of the world, Muslims gather annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca wearing simple white cloth, leaving behind the comforts of their homes for a brief period. By forgoing their lifestyles, their only focus is to pray to God as his humble servant and ask for his forgiveness and mercy. However, with the change of times the surroundings of the Grand Mosque have changed with the appearance of five-star luxury hotels and shopping malls. These malls offer the material items people crave to have at a time when Muslims are expected to forgo life's luxuries and pleasures. But in the modern 21st century, few can ignore the need for consumer items, regardless of the location. Sohail Rahman reports from Mecca.

Tilawat and Azan video Live from Macca - Arabic

Hajj involves two parallel journeys, namely the journey of body and the journey of soul. Pilgrims of the House of God purify their hearts from what keeps them away from God. The rituals start in the Great Mosque by circling seven times round the Kaaba in an anti-clockwise direction, which is known as Tawaf, followed by two rakat of prayers. Pilgrims often experience a very moving moment when they first set their eyes on Kabba. They walk and run seven times along a passageway in the Great Mosque between Safa and Marwah mounts, commemorating a search for water by Hajar, wife of the Prophet Abraham. Rituals also involve travelling to the valley of Arafat and standing in the open praising God, supplicating and meditating. This is followed by spending the night in Muzdalifa. In the morning, pilgrims head towards Mina and start the first in a series of throwing stones at pillars symbolizing the devil. The pillars stand at three points where Satan is believed to have tried to tempt the Prophet Abraham. Pilgrims also sacrifice an animal to commemorate the incident when the Prophet Abraham was about to sacrifice his son for the sake of God and God accepted a sheep instead. Pilgrims then shave their heads or cut some parts of it. They should return to the Great Mosque at Mecca for further rituals either before or after they complete their stay and stoning the devils in Mina. At the end of it all, pilgrims hope that God accepts their Hajj. Hajj rituals are performed at different locations but the kaaba stands out. It is the holiest place on earth. You can feel the energy here.