Scores of Muslims circled the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia, a key part of the Hajj pilgrimage, on Tuesday.
More than one million people are taking part in the pilgrimage, much less than last year, as fears of a respiratory virus are keeping people away.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef said there were 1,379,531 million pilgrims from outside the country, down 21% on last year's 1.75 million, according to Al Jazeera.
The MERS virus has killed 60 people worldwide, 51 in Saudi Arabia, but no cases have been detected so far over this festival period, the health ministry confirmed.
At the beginning of the Hajj, each person walks counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer. Pilgrims then run back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drink from the Zamzam Well, then head up to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, and throw stones in a ritual Stoning of the Devil.
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The pilgrims then shave their heads, perform a ritual of animal sacrifice, and celebrate the three day global festival of Eid al-Adha.
A newly constructed electric railway has transported around 400,000 of the pilgrims, with more than 100,000 troops to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Eid al-Adha, the celebration of sacrifice
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A Pakistani feeds his goat wearing the words 'Eid Mubarak' or 'Eid Greeting', to be slaughtered on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha by sacrificing sheep, goats, cows and camels, to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (credit:AP)
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Members of the Afghan guard of honor perform their Eid al-Adha prayers outside a mosque at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) (credit:AP)
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Egyptian woman prays while holding her daughter on a street next to the Sayyida Zeinab mosque on the first day of Eid al-Ahda in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place.(AP Photo/Manu Brabo) (credit:AP)
Bashar Assad(04 of45)
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, fifth from right, prays during the Eid al-Adha prayer at the Sayeda Hassiba mosque, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA) (credit:AP)
Bashar Assad(05 of45)
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, shakes hands with a Syrian man, right, after prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha at the Sayeda Hassiba mosque, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA) (credit:AP)
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A Bosnian man holds a cleaver, used for chopping slaughtered sheep on the first day of Eid al-Adha celebrations, in the outskirts of Sarajevo on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha or "Feast of the Sacrifice", which marks the end of the annual hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca and celebrates Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) (credit:AP)
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Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in the Mina neighborhood of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. The 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the hajj, is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, to mark the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christians and Jews, to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (credit:AP)
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Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in the Mina neighborhood of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. The 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the hajj, is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, to mark the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christians and Jews, to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (credit:AP)
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Saudi Muslim pilgrim, Ayied Al Harbi, has his head ritually shaved after he casts stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," a rite of the annual hajj, in the Mina neighborhood of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. The 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the hajj, is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, to mark the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christians and Jews, to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (credit:AP)
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Saudi Muslim pilgrim, Gaiad al Harbi, 15, has his head ritually shaved after he casts stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," a rite of the annual hajj, in the Mina neighborhood of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. The 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the hajj, is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, to mark the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christians and Jews, to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (credit:AP)
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A Bangladeshi man yawns as he stands with his cattle at a market ahead of Eid al-Adha festival in Mymensingh, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad) (credit:AP)
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A Bangladeshi man covers himself with a plastic sheet during a downpour as he waits for customers at a cattle market in Mymensingh, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad) (credit:AP)
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Indian people carry goats in a vehicle on the eve of Eid al-Adha in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) (credit:AP)
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An Indian man displays his goat at a marketplace ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) (credit:AP)
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A young Indian boy holds on to his goat as he sits behind his father on a scooter ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) (credit:AP)
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Muslims attend a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday on a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:AP)
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Muslims attend a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday on a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:AP)
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Muslims pray outside a mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (credit:AP)
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Palestinian children pose for a photo during prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Al-Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:AP)
Ismail Haniyeh(20 of45)
Gaza's Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, center, prays on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Al-Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:AP)
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Security guards rescue children to prevent them from being crushed as people struggle to receive small packages of meat during the Eid al-Adha holiday in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims around the world celebrate the holiday by slaughtering sheep and cattle and distribute the meat to the needy in remembrance of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son. (AP Photo/Trisnadi) (credit:AP)
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Bangladeshi Muslims travel on the roof of a train as they head to their homes ahead of Eid al-Adha as others wait at a railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people working in Dhaka return home to spend time with their family during the Eid al-Adha celebrations. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
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A man prays as others leave a place outside Moscow's main mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. According to the press service of Moscows main police department, about 4,000 police officers, Interior troops and vigilantes will be ensuring security during the Eid al-Adha celebration events. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)
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Palestinian girls pray on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Al-Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:AP)
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Muslim women struggle to receive small packages of meat during the Eid al-Adha holiday in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims around the world celebrate the holiday by slaughtering sheep, goats and cattle and distribute the meat to the needy in remembrance of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son. (AP Photo/Trisnadi) (credit:AP)
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Muslims pray outside Moscow's main mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. According to the press service of Moscows main police department, about 4,000 police officers, Interior troops and vigilantes will be ensuring security during the Eid al-Adha celebration events. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)
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Muslims pray outside Moscow's main mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. According to the press service of Moscows main police department, about 4,000 police officers, Interior troops and vigilantes will be ensuring security during the Eid al-Adha celebration events. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)
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Muslims pray outside Moscow's main mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. According to the press service of Moscows main police department, about 4,000 police officers, Interior troops and vigilantes will be ensuring security during the Eid al-Adha celebration events. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)
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A young Palestinian girl attends prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha at Al-Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice on Oct. 15, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:AP)
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Kenyan Muslims raise their hands to offer prayers during Eid al-Adha prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Hajji in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats and distribute the meat to the needy, during the Eid al-Adha festival which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
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Imam delivers sermon during Eid al-Adha prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Hajji in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats and distribute the meat to the needy, during the Eid al-Adha festival which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
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A Kenyan Muslim raises his hands to offer prayers during Eid al-Adha prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Hajji in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats and distribute the meat to the needy, during the Eid al-Adha festival which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
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Butchers prepare to slaughter a cow for sacrifice during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims all over the world celebrate the three-day Eid al-Adha, by sacrificing sheep, goats, cows and camels, to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (credit:AP)
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Filipino Muslims offer early morning prayers in observance of Edi'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) at the Blue Mosque at suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world mark Edi'l Adha with prayers and the slaughter of goats, cows and other farm animals and distribute their meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
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Kenyan Muslims offer prayers during Eid al-Adha prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Hajji in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats and distribute the meat to the needy, during the Eid al-Adha festival which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (credit:AP)
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Muslims pray outside a mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (credit:AP)
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The sun rises as Muslims pray outside a mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, which Muslims in Russia call Kurban-Bairam, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (credit:AP)
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Muslim youths perform a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday on a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:AP)
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A Muslim girl waits for her mother during a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday on a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:AP)
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Singaporean Muslims leave the Darul Makmur Mosque after prayers to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, in Singapore. Eid al-Adha, the celebration of sacrifice, is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar, marking the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (credit:AP)
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Indonesian Muslim women buy balloons from a vendor after a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:AP)
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Filipino Muslims greet each other after offering early morning prayers in observance of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice" at the Blue Mosque in Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Traditionally Muslims all over the world mark Eid al-Adha with prayers and the slaughter of goats, cows and other farm animals with some distributing the meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
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A Muslim girl looks at masks on sale during Eid al-Adha celebrations, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, in Bali, Indonesia. Eid al-Adha, the celebration of sacrifice, is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar, marking the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (credit:AP)
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People travel on a overcrowded train for their hometowns to celebrate the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. Muslims all over the world celebrate the three-day Eid al-Adha, by sacrificing sheep, goats, cows and camels, to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) (credit:AP)
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A Palestinian butcher slaughters an animal as the head of a ram lies on the street on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his son to obey God's command, when God interceded by substituting a ram in the child's place.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:AP)