Mina: Saudi police were on high alert on Friday as millions of Muslims rushed to complete one of the last rituals of the Haj pilgrimage.
Most of the more than two million pilgrims want to perform their third stoning of walls representing the devil and leave the Mina area east of Makkah by sunset.
At the site of the Jamarat, the three stone "pillars" have been converted into long elliptical concrete walls to accommodate more people who want to stone the pillars.
Last year, 362 pilgrims were killed during a stampede in the area, prompting authorities to construct a $1 billion project for pilgrims to throw stones on four levels.
Police on Friday imposed a strict one-way system, so that pilgrims who have completed the rite do not mix with those moving in the other direction.
They also insisted that people leave their bags outside and to avoid lingering on the other side when they had thrown their seven pebbles.
Pilgrims, drawing to the end of their five-day mission, said they were delighted with the arrangements.
"I feel spiritually at peace and everything went perfectly," said Abdel Karim Al Atawi, a Saudi soldier from the northern town of Tabouk.
After the third stoning, the only remaining rite is a final farewell visit to the site of the Kaaba, the ancient stone shrine which all Muslims face when they say their daily prayers.
