Kathmandu: The five-day annual Haj pilgrimage commences today in Saudi Arabia. More than 79 thousand pilgrims from India are participating in this year’s pilgrimage. The pilgrims will begin their journey from holy city of Mecca to assemble in Mina. They will spend the night there and move towards plains of Arafat at dawn tomorrow for the day’s main ritual of Haj, reciting prayers. Only those below 65 years of age and fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are allowed this year.