MINA, Saudi Arabia, (AFP) - Hajis pelted pillars symbolising the Satan with pebbles on the third day of the Haj on Friday as the faithfuls worldwide marked the Eidul Azha with mass animal sacrifices. Hundreds of thousands of Hajis filed by the three Jamarat pillars in Mina tossing stones to mark Hazrat Ibraham (AS}s three rejections of the Satans (devil) attempts to persuade him to ignore Allahs instructions to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) as related in the Holy Quran. The stoning was orderly during the night and early morning on Friday, fulfilling Saudi hopes that enlarged pillars and a newly-built five storey pilgrim walkway would end the crowding that led to deadly stampedes in previous years as the faithful jammed into the area for the required ritual. I was a afraid of problems at the Jamarat bridge, but it was very easy, said Faeq Jarada, 60, a Haji from Gaza. After the stoning, said Jarada, the Hajis feel pure like a child, like they are reborn. Assistant chief of Haj security Khader al-Zaharani told Saudi television on Friday that there had been no major problems. The whole world wants to know how we protect the safety of several million Hajis at the same time, he said. Stampedes of Hajis at the Jamarat area were frequent in past pilgrimages. In 2006, 346 were crushed to death at the site. The design of the new bridge, forcing all pilgrims to move in one direction and offering numerous exits, aims to prevent a recurrence. Security was tight in the area, with two military helicopters flying overhead at all times. Hajis were prevented from bringing any large bags into the Jamarat area, to prevent people lugging suitcases from jamming up the crowds. After throwing the pebbles, many Hajis were also taking advantage of dozens of barbers around Mina to shave their heads as part of their purification, at 10 riyals (2.67 dollars) per person. His head freshly shaven, Jordanian Nadil Novany, 42, had shed the towels men wear for the Haj and was back in his jeans, having completed all key rituals. We have finished the most important steps in Haj. Early in the morning we went to the Grand Mosque in Mammak and walked around the Khan-e-Kaaba seven times. Then we came back to Mina, threw stones at the Jamara and then prayed at the Fajr prayers. Then we shaved our heads, and sacrificed sheep in thanks. The stoning ritual in Mina is followed by the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of head of livestock. As Hazrat Ibrahim fended off the devil and moved towards fulfilling the command to sacrifice Hazrat Ismail (AS), an angel intervened and revoked the command, supplying Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) instead with a ram to sacrifice. Muslims around the world ritually sacrifice goats, sheep and cattle on this day to commemorate Hazrat Ibrahims obedience to Allah and Hazrat Ismails reprieve. In Makkah, authorities have moved the sacrifices to massive abattoirs and most Hajis buy certificates guaranteeing them a sheep or goat will be sacrificed in their name. An estimated 2.5 million faithful from all over the world were in Makkah this week for the Haj, braving the threat of swine flu which has killed four of their number and shrugging off a heavy downpour on Tuesday that caused mass flooding in nearby Jeddah. At least 83 people died in the floods, reports said.