1.3 lakh Indians begin Haj today

• Preparations were complete for Haj, says Mecca Governor
• Pilgrims will begin leaving for Mina late in the night or early morning
• Arrangements by the Indian Haj Mission has been very good: Indian pilgrim

Mecca: Over two million Muslims, including 136,000 Indians, will begin Haj when they assemble in the valley of Mina as Saudi authorities said preparations have been completed for the world's largest annual gathering after the city underwent a multi-billion overhaul.

Mecca Governor Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah said preparations were complete for Haj which begins tomorrow. "The plan for welcoming pilgrims was successful. All government and private agencies should mobilise their human and technical resources to make the annual event a big success," he said.

Prince Mishaal, who is chairman of the Central Haj Committee, instructed security officers not to allow pilgrims without Haj permits into the holy sites and impose sanctions on violators. Saudi Arabia has deployed over 70,000 officers in Mecca, Madina and other holy cities to ensure safety and security of pilgrims.

A number of foreign heads of state, including Bangladesh President Mohammed Abdul Hamid, Sudanese President Omar Bashir, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, have arrived for Haj. Pilgrims will begin leaving for Mina late in the night or early morning on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people continued to circumambulate the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, where the Grand Mosque has been packed with pilgrims from across the world. In the first phase, the pilgrims will spend the night in the tent-city of Mina reciting the Holy Quran or praying.

The pilgrims this year include more than 136,000 Indians who are set to move into Mina in groups. Pilgrims were seen filled with enthusiasm and excitement ahead of Haj as this was the first opportunity for many. From tears to a sense of reflection prevailed among the pilgrims, just a day ahead of the pilgrimage.