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Summary Pilgrims stoned the devil in Mina valley on Saturday, as the hajj reached its final stages.
Men, women and children from 189 countries, many of whom had saved for years to make the trip, hurled pebbles at three vast stone pillars representing Satan, shouting Allahu Akbar.They moved from one pillar to the next in groups by nationality, carrying their countries flags in order not to be separated in the sea of humanity.As pilgrims prayed after and during the stoning, others took pictures on their mobile phones of themselves next to the pillars.This was criticised by members of the security forces who said through loudspeakers: How are you people stoning Satan and taking pictures with him at the same time?Afghan pilgrim Aysha Mohammed, 77, sat down, panting. Theres a sweet feeling about getting tired during hajj which Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime.Ever since I was a child I had dreamt of standing on the Mount of Mercy in Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have given his last sermon, she said with a smile. They were purely spiritual moments.Security forces were heavily deployed in the stoning area and first aid teams remained on high alert at the pillars.The ritual, in the usually deserted Mina valley that comes to life only during the pilgrimage, began on Friday with the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday as the faithful stoned the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqaba.Early on Saturday, plastic bags of meat were gathered and sent to camps in Mina. On Eid al-Adha -- the feast of sacrifice -- sheep are slaughtered and the meat is distributed to needy Muslims.According to the authorities, 168,000 police officers and civil defence personnel were mobilised for this years hajj.More than three million registered pilgrims are performing the rituals which end officially on Monday. Many pilgrims, however, conclude their pilgrimage on Sunday.
