Final days of hajj and Eid festival impacted by coronavirus

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Small groups of pilgrims performed one of final rites of Islamic hajj on Friday as Muslims worldwide marked start of Eid al-ha holiday amid a global pandemic that has impacted nearly every aspect of this year's pilgrim and celebrations.

last days of annual pilgrim to Mecca in Saudi Arabia coincide with four-day Eid al-ha, or “Feast of Sacrifice,” in which Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute meat to poor.

pandemic has pushed millions of people around world closer to brink of poverty, making it harder for many to fulfill religious trition of purchasing livestock.

In Somalia, price of meat has slightly increased. Abdishakur Dahir, a civil servant in Mogishu, said that for first time he won't be able to afford goat for Eid because of impact of virus on work.

“I could hardly buy food for my family," Dahir said. “We are just surviving for w. Life is getting tougher by day."

In some parts of West Africa, price for a ram has doubled. Livestock sellers, used to doing brisk business in days before holiday, say sales have dwindled and those who are buying can’t afford much.

“ situation is really complicated by coronavirus, it’s a tough market,” Oumar Maiga, a livestock trer in Ivory Coast said. “We are in a situation we’ve never seen in or years.”

hajj pilgrim has also been drastically impacted by virus. Last year, some 2.5 million pilgrims took part, but this year as few as 1,000 pilgrims alrey residing in Saudi Arabia were allowed to preform hajj.

Saudi Health Ministry said re have been cases of COVID-19 illness among this year's pilgrims. government took numerous precautions, including testing pilgrims for virus, monitoring ir movement with electronic wristbands and requiring m to quarantine before and after hajj. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal, and all h to be between s of 20 and 50 years-old.

Just after dawn on Friday, small groups of pilgrims — masked and physically distancing — me ir way toward massive multi-story Jamarat Complex in Saudi valley area of Mina. re, pilgrims cast pebbles at three large columns. It is here where Muslims believe devil tried to talk Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, out of submitting to God’s will.

Muslims commemorate prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith by slaughtering livestock and animals and distributing meat to poor.

During last days of hajj, male pilgrims shave ir hes and remove terrycloth white garments worn during pilgrim. Women cut off a small lock of hair in a sign of spiritual rebirth and renewal.

hajj, both physically and spiritually demanding, intends to bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims. It is required of all Muslims to perform once in a lifetime.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Manea, member of Supreme Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia, used hajj sermon on Friday to praise kingdom's leership for ir “wise decision” to limit number of pilgrims and protect human life.

“We thank positive role of Muslims around world that have complied with regulations of country to protect m from spre of this virus, which les to protection of Mecca and Medina," sheikh said.

Around world, Muslims gared with relatives to mark start of Eid. Some countries, like Kosovo and United Arab Emirates, have closed mosques for Eid prayers to limit spre of virus.

In Indonesia, home to world’s largest population of Muslims, people were allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques under strict health guidelines, including that y bring ir own prayer mats and pray several feet apart from one ar. Worshipers must wear masks and are t allowed to shake hands or hug.

Authorities in Indonesia also ordered that meat be delivered door-to-door to poor to avoid long lines.

“This outbreak has t only changed our trition entirely, but has also me more and more people fall into poverty,” said Agus Supriatna, an Indonesian factory worker who was laid off this year because of pandemic.

Muslim leers in Albania and Kosovo called on people “to be careful" in ir festivities to avoid transmission of virus, including limiting family visits.

A few days ahe of Eid, Alioune Ndong in Senegal said he did t kw how he’d come up with money for his family’s feast He called on Senegal’s government to help struggling families like his.

“COVID-19 has drained my money," said Ndong, a tailor based in town of Mbour.

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Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia; Fay Abuelgasim in Dubai; Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania; Abdi Guled in Nairobi, Kenya; Lekan Oyekanmi in Lagos, Nigeria; Abdoulie John in Mbour, Senegal; Hilaire Zon in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Babacar Dione and Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.