A trickle of hajj pilgrims, where millions once worshiped

It’s one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere, and one of towering importance in the Muslim faith, drawing more than 2 million people to the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina.

But this year, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia limited the hajj pilgrimage, underway Wednesday, to a sliver of its accustomed size, allowing up to 1,000 worshipers living in the kingdom to make the trip.