Pakistan, June 7 -- Pilgrims performed the last major ritual of Hajj - the "stoning of the devil" - on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of the Eidul Azha holiday.

Starting at dawn, the more than 1.6 million Muslims taking part in the pilgrimage threw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Makkah.

This ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's act of stoning Satan at the very spots where, according to tradition, the devil attempted to dissuade him from obeying Allah's command to sacrifice his son.

A day earlier, pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat, praying and reciting Quranic verses at the 70-metre (230-foot) rocky rise near Makk...