President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have greeted the nation on the occasion of Id ul Zuha.

In her message, the President said may this unique festival strengthen the foundations of national unity and harmony and inspire the people to work for the well being of human beings.

Vice President said this festival highlights the virtues of sacrifice and inspires for inculcating the spirit of compassion and love towards downtrodden.

Dr Manmohan Singh said the occasion reaffirms our commitment to work for the welfare of those who are less privileged.

The Congress President said the festival rekindles our faith on the ideals of peace and service of humanity.

A sea of pilgrims estimated to be 2.5 million in number, including 100,000 from India, converged on the vast plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia for the final day of the annual Hajj on Sunday.

Wearing white seamless robes, the millions of Muslims from every part of the world, started descending on the plains of Mount Arafat early Friday after spending the night in the city of Mina, that lies 10 kms from Arafat.

The people took buses or the new Mecca Metro and some even came on foot to flock to Arafat where Prophet Mohammad delivered his famous final sermon.

The Chinese built Metro is operating for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion and avoid stampedes which have previously killed hundreds.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a duty of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to perform it.

Pilgrims in white seamless clothes started heading for Arafat early yesterday after finishing other rituals, including the ‘tawaf’ or moving seven times around the Kaba in Mecca, treading back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and stoning the symbolic ‘satan’.

The chants of ‘Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik’ (Oh God, here I am answering your call) resonated as the sea of humanity descended on Arafat.

This last leg of the Hajj pilgrimage will culminate into the ‘Day of Sacrifice’ when Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid Al Azha. Eid will be celebrated in the Gulf region on Sunday.