COVID-19: HAJ PILGRIMS KEEP DISTANCE AT THE USUALLY CROWDED STONE THE DEVIL RITUAL.{PHOTOS}.

     Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia took part in a symbolic stoning of the devil on Friday, but maintained social distancing in a ritual that usually brings millions of worshippers from all over the world shoulder to shoulder. 

The ritual, at which pilgrims must hurl pebbles at a giant wall, has in the past been the scene of several deadly crowd accidents. In 2015, hundreds died in a crush at an intersection leading up to the site.

Clad in white robes denoting a state of purity and face masks, men and women cast their stones, closely monitored by health professionals. The pilgrims stood apart on yellow markers marking a safe social distance. 

They will return over the next two days for more stoning before going back to Mecca to pray at the Grand Mosque at the end of haj.

In previous year, some 3 million white-clad pilgrims from across the world flocked to Islam’s holiest sites to attend haj. 

But with large gatherings impossible given the pandemic, only a few thousand pilgrims - Saudis and foreign residents living in the country- are gathering this year.More photos below.