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November 2011
Muslims make their way to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The five-day observance, which ended Tuesday, draws up to 3 million visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. Chanting "God is great," millions of Muslims on Sunday stoned pillars representing the devil in a symbolic rejection of temptation on the second day of their annual hajj pilgrimage, a day that also marks the start of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Vast crowds cast pebbles as they flowed past the three pillars, which now resemble curved walls, in a four-level sprawling concrete structure built to expedite the flow of pilgrims. The ritual will be repeated for two more days, with participants eventually throwing stones at all three pillars. The ritual in the desert valley of Mina commemorates Abraham's stoning of the devil, who is said to have appeared three times to the prophet to tempt him.
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The Grand Mosque is seen from the top of the Hira cave near Mecca.
A Muslim pilgrim prays as visits the Hiraa cave at the top of Noor Mountain.
Muslim pilgrims visit the Hiraa cave, at the top of Noor Mountain.
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims move around the Kaaba (center) inside the Grand Mosque.
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims move around the Kaaba, seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque.
Photo: Wang Bo
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims pray outside and inside the Grand Mosque.
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims pray outside and inside the Grand Mosque.
Muslim pilgrims head to pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat.
Muslim pilgrims head to pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near Mecca. The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws 2.5 million visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world.
Saudi special forces stand guard as Muslim pilgrims pray during Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque.
Muslim pilgrims pray in the shade of on of the minarets of the Grand Mosque.
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat.
Muslim pilgrims climb a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat.
Muslim pilgrims climb a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy on the Plain of Arafat.
On Saturday, the second day of the hajj pilgrimage, Muslims gather in the desert plain of Arafat.
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat.
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat.
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims arrive to throw pebbles at pillars during the "Jamarat" ritual, the stoning of Satan, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca.
A crowd of Muslim pilgrims make their way to throw cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
Muslim women pilgrims make their way to throw cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj.
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina near the Saudi holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
Muslim pilgrims protect their heads from stones thrown by others at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina.
The Mecca CLock Tower dominates the city as Muslim pilgrims walking around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of the holy city of Mecca during the annual Hajj pilgrimage rituals.
Ammar Awad
Tents of Muslim pilgrims recede into the distance at Mina, Saudi Arabia.
Mina, Saudi Arabia Muslims cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the devil as part of one of the hajj rituals called jamarah on Tuesday.