People trying to get closer to the Ka'ba for prayers

The Ka'ba is located within the Masjide Haram. Muslims from all over the world face the Kaba when they pray their five daily compulsory prayers. Also, many travel to Makkah for the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or the Hajj (annual pilgrimage). The Hajj is compulsory on every Muslim to do once in their lifetime, if he or she have the financial and medical means for it.

During the Hajj millions of Muslims travel from every corner of the earth to perform this ritual. The mosque is too small for everybody, so many must offer their prayers outside the mosque, just like those on the picture. Many travel in groups. Some choose a specific color which the members of the group must wear, and/or a banner/flag or something similar which they can raise in the air. These kinds of identification helps the group not to be scattered and for identification of each others. Some groups can be huge and not everybody know each others.