Hajj pilgrims return to scene of deadly stampede
 

Mina, Saudi Arabia: Muslims from around the world on Monday returned to the scene of last year´s deadly stampede to perform a stoning ritual near Mecca that is the final major rite of the hajj.

Rivers of pilgrims flowed on multiple ramps toward the Jamarat Bridge where the "stoning of the devil" is taking place under high security.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia do **t talk about last year´s stampede, which was the worst disaster in hajj history. But a number of safety measures have been taken and pilgrims on Monday expressed ** concern.

The stoning ritual coincides with Eid al-Adha, Islam´s feast of sacrifice, which is celebrated by more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.

Sheep are slaughtered and the meat distributed to needy Muslims, symbolising the prophet Abraham´s willingness to sacrifice Ishmael on the orders of God, who provided a lamb in the boy´s place at the last moment.

Pilgrims have ** need to get blood on their hands, though. They can simply purchase computerised coupons to order a sacrifice -- without even seeing the beast.

The Jamarat ritual, which occurs in Mina at the eastern edge of Mecca, emulates Abraham´s stoning of the devil in resisting the temptation to disobey God´s order.

Elevated cameras stationed several metres (yards) apart filmed the pilgrims, most clad in white moving behind coloured banners identifying their groups.

The stoning bridge, which resembles a large multi-storey car park, was erected in the past decade at a cost of more than $1 billion (900 million euros). It was designed to prevent overcrowding.

Hundreds of police were stationed on each of the Jamarat´s five floors, linked by escalators, from where pilgrims toss gravel-sized stones against rough stone walls.

More than 1.8 million faithful, most of them from abroad, are performing the six-day hajj, which ends Thursday.

Many pilgrims this year expressed faith that new security measures would prevent a repeat of last year´s crush.



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