Final rites of the Islamic hajj in Mecca

Small groups of pilgrims performed one of the final rites of the hajj in Mecca on Friday, as Muslims worldwide marked the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday amid a global pandemic that has impacted nearly every aspect of this year's pilgrimage.

The last days of hajj coincide with the four-day Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," in which Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.

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

The hajj pilgrimage has also been drastically impacted by the virus.

Last year, some 2.5 million pilgrims took part, but this year as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to perform the hajj.

The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of the COVID-19 illness among this year's pilgrims.