Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the Al-Masjid al-Haram (Grand mosque) in Mecca
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the Al-Masjid al-Haram (Grand mosque) in Mecca Reuters

As the Hajj is underway, millions of Muslims have now reached Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage which is also one of the five pillars of Islam.

All Muslims that are able-bodied and can afford it should perform the pilgrimage at least once in their life, according to Islam.

For those who have not been able to go all the way to the Gulf Kingdom or just want to have a clearer idea of what actually takes place during Hajj, Youtube broadcast a live coverage of the annual pilgrimage.

The move comes after Google had earlier partnered with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information to broadcast Islamic prayers live during Ramadan from the Holy Mosque in Mecca, earlier this year.

The YouTube Haj live stream is also being produced in association with the ministry and can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/user/hajjlive?cbrd=1&ucbcb=1

"The Hajj is an ancient ritual," wrote Najeeb Jarrar, Google product marketing manager, Middle East and North Africa on the company's latest blog posting, "but now, through the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information's YouTube channel, millions of people from around the world will be able to experience and comment on the event by tuning in via video."