Staff
The hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city of Makka (often spelled Mecca), which occurs between the 7th and 12th (or sometimes the 13th) of Dhu al-Hijjah--the last month of the Islamic calendar. The comparable dates for the hajj in the Gregorian calendar change from year to year because the Islamic calendar is shorter than the Gregorian. It's a mandatory duty for all Muslims to complete the pilgrimage once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially able to do so. The hajj is the single largest annual gathering of human beings on earth, and there are many holy rituals associated with the pilgrimage--including how one dresses to complete the hajj. For a pilgrim traveling to Makka for the hajj, at a point about