Mecca, Saudi Arabia: More than two million Muslims from around the globe gather in Saudi Arabia this week for the pilgrimage of Hajj, as the once in a year process is made easy with hi-tech apps to help the faithful navigate Islam’s holiest sites.

The Hajj comes this year at a time when the ultra-conservative kingdom witnesses an unprecedented pace of change which puts an end to a driving ban for women and many other such changes.

Considered one of the five pillars of the world’s fastest growing religion that too in the era of science and technology, the hajj is expected to draw more than two million people from all over the world this year.

By Thursday itself, more than 1.6 million people had already arrived in the peninsula country of Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage, which goes on from Sunday to Friday.

Thousands of men and women could be seen arriving in Mecca in groups from various countries wearing distinct colors to be known their nationality.

Some of them can be seen pushing their elderly relatives on wheelchairs while others paused to call family members at home on video chat or buy ice cream amid the temperatures rising above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

For many of them, it is first such instance that they are away from their homes.

Every Muslim should perform the hajj pilgrimage compulsorily at least once in their lifetime with the condition that they have all means to do so.

The era of ‘Smart Hajj’

Many of those pilgrims were visibly moved to be so close to Islam’s holiest site – the Kaaba, a black masonry cube located in the centre of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

“I feel as light as a feather,” said Senegalese Fame Diouf, who travelled from Amsterdam for the pilgrimage. Laughing, she recalled the story of how she couldn’t stop crying near the Kaaba.

“This was my dream from childhood,” said Raja Amjad Hussein, who made the trip to Mecca from the country of Pakistan.

“I can’t explain. I have no words,” the 40-year-old told AFP.

“For many Muslims this is the big, the biggest, dream of life, to see Kaaba and pray for yourself and the whole Muslim nation.”

There is no differentiation based on race or nationality, as every pilgrim begins his hajj with “ihram”, the donning of an all-white outfit.

As for the men, this clothing is a seamless tunic worn over baggy pants; for women, a loose dress over the whole body with only the face and hands exposed.

After that, pilgrims then perform rituals around the Kaaba and then on the Mount of Arafat plain east of Mecca.

The hajj ends with the day of Eid al-Adha, a three-day feast which begins with the “stoning of the devil”.

The occasion of Eid al-Adha also includes the slaughtering of sheep and the meat is then distributed to Muslims in need. The ritual symbolizes Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismael, on the the order of God.

The hajj pilgrimage brings for the Saudi authorities with major logistical challenges.

According to the Pew Research Center, the total number of Muslims in the world are expected to rise from 1.8 billion in the year 2015 to three billion in 2060.

From this year onwards, the Saudis have launched a “smart hajj” initiative with several apps to help pilgrims with everything they need, from travel plans to medical care.

Asefny is one such example which was launched by the Saudi Arabia’s Red Crescent organization to help pilgrims request emergency medical attention.

Authorities are easily able to locate those in need through the app.

The Saudi hajj ministry has also started running the Manasikana app, which provides translation service for pilgrims who do not know the language of Arabic or English.

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