MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Close to 2 million people from around the world began performing the first rites of the Islamic hajj pilgrimage on Saturday, seeking to enter a state of physical and spiritual purity and circling the cube-shaped Kaaba with their palms facing upward in supplication and prayer.

Notably absent this year are Iranian pilgrims. Last year, some 64,000 Iranians took part in the hajj, but disputes with the Saudi government prompted Tehran to bar its citizens from taking part this year.

Saudi Arabia has blamed Iranian officials for the decision and suggested it was politically motivated to publicly pressure the kingdom. Iran says Saudi ‘‘incompetence’’ caused a crush and stampede during last year’s hajj that killed more than 460 of its citizens.

On Friday, thousands of Iranians marched through the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities to protest Saudi Arabia, chanting prayers against the kingdom’s Sunni rulers after midday prayers.

The Interior Ministry says visitors from 160 countries traveled to the kingdom to perform the hajj this year.

Saudi Arabia’s top cleric will not be delivering this year’s prestigious hajj sermon on Sunday, for the first time in more than three decades.

The Al-Riyadh newspaper reported Saturday that Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, who has delivered the sermon since 1981, will be replaced by Sheikh Saleh bin Hamid.

Hamid previously served as chairman of the top consultative Shura Council and was appointed to the Supreme Judicial Council before serving as a royal adviser. The newspaper did not give a reason for the change.

The mufti sparked controversy last week when he was quoted as saying Iran’s Shi’ite leaders ‘‘are not Muslims.’’ He was responding to criticism from Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, over Saudi Arabia’s response to last year’s deadly crush and stampede.

The hajj is one of the world’s largest pilgrimages. It draws the faithful to the holy city of Mecca and areas around it for five intense days of rituals and prayers aimed at erasing past sins and drawing Muslims closer to God. The pilgrimage is required of all Muslims to perform once in their lifetime.

To begin the hajj, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims circle the Kaaba in Mecca’s Grand Mosque. In a sign of humility and equality before God, the pilgrims shed symbols of materialism, entering a state of ‘‘ihram.’’

Women forgo makeup and perfume and wear loose-fitting clothing and a head covering, while men dress in seamless, white garments.

Since arriving in Mecca over the past several weeks, hundreds of thousands have chanted, ‘‘Labayk Allahuma Labayk,’’ or ‘‘Here I am, God, answering your call. Here I am.’’

While following a route the prophet Mohammed once walked, the rites of hajj are believed to ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as they are named in the Bible.

Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where Mohammed is buried and where he built his first mosque. About 160,000 tents have been set up in the massive valley at Mina.