CAIRO, January 11, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – The three-day ritual of rami al-Jamarat was off to a peaceful start Tuesday, January 10, as over 2.5 million pilgrims poured into the valley of Mina east of the holy city of Makkah to affirm their allegiance to God by stoning symbols of Satan.

In fulfillment of one of the traditions of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), each pilgrim pelted seven pebbles at the Jamarat Al-Aqabah (the biggest of three pillars) Tuesday and the ritual will continue for another two days, the Saudi Gazette reported Wednesday, January 11.

Those who are unable to leave Mina on the 12th Dhul Hijjah before sundown are required to stay another day in Mina and stone all the Jamarats on the 13th Dhul Hijjah.

The stoning ritual became in recent years more hectic for the pilgrims as well as for each and every person involved into the management of the whole affair.

Thousands of Saudi policemen and security force members were at hand to prevent a repeat of stampedes

Helicopters hovered overhead and a dozen or so ambulances with sirens wailing milled through the crowds under the bridge of Jamarat.

There have been many deadly stampedes in the past. In 2003, 14 pilgrims, including six women, were killed during the first day of the stoning ritual.

The worst toll was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a stampede in a tunnel in Mina.

A general view of Mina. (Reuters)

After pelting seven pebbles at the Jamarat Al-Aqabah, pilgrims proceeded to shave or clip their hair.

Those who were left with enough energy proceeded to offer a sacrificial animal at the mammoth slaughter house located on the outskirts of Mina, the Gazette said.

There are three main slaughterhouses in Mina for sacrificing sheep. This year the municipality added a fourth for sacrificing camels and cows.

The ritual reminds Muslims of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

After stoning, head-shaving and sacrifice, scores of pilgrims proceeded to Makkah to perform the circumambulation of Ka bah (Tawaf Al-Ifadah seven circuits) and Sa ie (seven circuits between Mounts Safa and Marwah).

After performing the Tawaf Al-Ifadah, the pilgrims returned to their base camp in Mina to fulfill the final rituals of hajj, which are to be carried out in Mina.

Before returning to Mina from Arafat, the pilgrims spent the night in the plain of Muzdalifah where they collected pebbles for the stoning ritual.

After completing the rituals on Tuesday, thousands of pilgrims lined up to phone home.

"The pilgrimage has gone much easier than I expected," Shahnawaz Ahmad, a 36-year-old Indian from Calcutta, told Saudi Arab News daily.

Sabeel Norani, another pilgrim from India, praised the improved arrangement at the Jamarat that has made it easier for pilgrims to do the stoning.

"Everything went according to plan and, by the grace of Allah, we have had no untoward incident at the Jamarat," said Ibrahim Sulaiman, a Syrian.

"I finished the stoning ritual in less than 15 minutes," Jalal Abdel Fattah, an Egyptian, proudly said.