Hajj 2016: When is it and how long does it take?

 The 2016 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is is a five-day ritual expected to begin on Friday, September 9 and end on the 14th. Hajj is a central pillar of the Islamic faith meant to cleanse the faithful of sin [File: EPA] Hajj is an annual piligrimage to Mecca for millions of Muslims from all over the world. In 2016, Hajj, one of the world's largest gatherings, is expected to begin on Friday, September 9. But the actual dates of the pilgrimage will be confirmed by Hajj authorities in Saudi Arabia on September 1 based on the sighting of the moon. If a new moon is sighted on September 1, then the first day of Hajj will be on September 9. But if the moon will not be visible on September 1, then Hajj will begin on Saturday, September 10. On the third day of Hajj each year, Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Adha, Islam's holiest festival. In the Islamic calendar, Hajj begins on the eighth day of the Dhu al-Hijjah lunar month, and ends on the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. The religious rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage, however, can be completed in five days. For Muslims, the Hajj re-enacts the actions of the Prophet Muhammad in his "farewell pilgrimage" in AD 632, and is a central pillar of the Islamic faith meant to cleanse the faithful of sin and bring them closer to God.