Hajj pilgrims spent today, the third day of the Eid Al-Adha, in Mina. Many performed the stoning of the devil ritual at Jamarat again before leaving for Makkah, where they circled the Holy Ka’abah. Other pilgrims will stone the devil tomorrow before heading to Makkah.

In a press conference today, Ministry of Interior Spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki noted that the pilgrims were able to perform the rituals without incident. He praised their adherence to the regulations, which he attributed to greater awareness of behavior and items that can cause problems.

Saudi authorities have gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the stoning ritual at Jamarat, which has traditionally been one of the most crowded parts of the Hajj. An expansion of the Jamarat Bridge allowed a large number of pilgrims to progress easily, and Saudi authorities prevented pilgrims from camping out on or near the bridge, which has in the past been a cause of congestion. In addition, a plan was implemented setting out certain times for groups of pilgrims to perform the stoning ritual.

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