British Museum to stage first-ever hajj pilgrimage exhibition

London, July 21 (ANI): The British Museum has announced it will stage a major exhibition dedicated to the hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Manuscripts, diaries, historic photographs and contemporary art will be displayed to mark the annual ritual, undertaken by Muslims across the world.

The exhibition will examine the pilgrim's journey, the rituals and the destination of Mecca.

It will also feature the work of contemporary Saudi artists such as Ahmed Mater and Shadia Alem, the BBC reports.

The museum's director, Neil MacGregor, said the Hajj was a cultural phenomenon 'that needs to be better understood'.

"Very beautiful things, supreme works of art, have been made to be sent to Mecca to accompany people. We'll be looking at some of those objects and they are supreme," MacGregor said.

The exhibition is to be staged in early 2012. (ANI)