Eid al-Adha celebrations underway as millions of Muslims around the world take part in Covid-safe festivities

MUSLIMS across the globe have been taking part in coronavirus safe celebrations for Eid al-Adha.

While some countries, like Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates, have closed mosques for Eid prayers, others have chosen to allow celebrations to go ahead.

This year's celebrations began yesterday evening and finished on August 3.

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was hosed down with the threat of coronavirus still a major global concern.

The cleaning process followed a big congregation at the Mosque sharing noon-prayers ahead of the holy day.

In Indonesia - home to the worlds’ largest population of Muslims - people were allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques under strict health guidelines.

Worshippers were required to bring their own prayer mats and pray several feet apart from one another.

They must wear masks and are not allowed to shake hands or hug.

Authorities also ordered that the traditional meat for the poor be delivered door-to-door to avoid long lines.

In Saudi Arabia the government took numerous precautions for pilgrims undertaking the pilgrimage – or hajj - to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

Measures included including testing pilgrims for the virus, monitoring their movement with electronic wristbands and requiring them to quarantine before and after the hajj.

Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal and and all had to be between the ages of 20 and 50 years-old.

Just after dawn on Friday, small groups of pilgrims masked and socially distancing made their way toward the massive multi-story Jamarat Complex in the Saudi valley area of Mina.

It is here where Muslims believe the devil tried to talk the Prophet Ibrahim-  or Abraham - out of submitting to Gods will.

There, the pilgrims cast pebbles at three large columns.

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 were allowed to perform the hajj.