RIYADH, June 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 1.67 million pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics said on Thursday, as worshippers gathered for the pivotal rite of standing at Arafat.
Of the total 1,673,230 pilgrims, 1,506,576 arrived from abroad through various air, land, and sea entry points, while 166,654 were from within the kingdom, including both Saudi citizens and residents.
Male pilgrims accounted for 877,841 of the total, while female pilgrims numbered 795,389, according to official figures.
The announcement came as pilgrims converged on the plain of Arafat, east of Mecca, for the most significant ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage -- a day of prayer and reflection considered the spiritual climax of the five-day event.
Saudi authorities said the movement of pilgrims to Arafat proceeded smoothly, with traffic flowing efficiently and operational plans fully implemented.
Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is a religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey. This year's pilgrimage runs from June 4 to June 9. ■
