MINA, Feb 22: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims stoned the devil on Friday in the last stage of the annual Haj, as Muslims around the world marked the first day of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

Masses of faithful, still clad in a two-piece seamless white cloth or Ihram, flocked to Mina valley, just outside the holy city of Makkah, where three giant concrete pillars symbolizing “Satan” stand.

They came from Muzdalifah, a lowland between Mount Arafat, where they spent Thursday, and Mina. Pilgrims were throwing seven small stones they collected overnight from Muzdalifah at the first pillar known as the “big Satan.” The stoning of Satan takes place over three days during which pilgrims hurl seven stones every day at each of the three 18-metre (58-foot) high pillars standing 155 metres apart.—AFP