Pilgrims pelt Satan on last day of Mecca hajj

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — The annual hajj in Saudi Arabia entered its final day on Friday as the last of almost 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims took part in the ritual "stoning of Satan."

Eager pilgrims who had travelled from across the world thronged around the Jamarat Bridge at Mina east of Mecca from the early hours to throw pebbles at the three massive pillars representing the devil.

With cries of "Allahu Akbar" -- God is greater -- echoing around the valley, the vast multitude of hajjis completed the ritual as the ceremony began drawing to a close.

People spoke of their joy at completing the hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam which all Muslims must undertake once in a lifetime if they have the means to do so.

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