Saudi Arabia Casts Away Demons with Stone Festival
2009-11-30 13:45
Two million Muslims in the valley of Mena just outside Mecca for the world's largest religious festival - the Haj pilgrimage.
And Saturday saw day two of the stoning ritual.
The Haj has been marred in previous years by hotel collapses, fires and police clashes.
This bridge was once the scene of deadly stampedes, the worst of which killed 362 people in 2006.
But this year there's an extra level of platforms to ease the congestion to throw the stones.
One volunteer said the Haj is so much safer now.
[Saad Ali, Saudi Volunteer]:
"It's getting better year after year. Everything is good, the organization and everything. It's my third year. Every haj the routes and facilities get better."
The stoning ritual symbolizes the rejection of the Devil and his temptations.
