الوسم: Ritual

  • 1.6M Hajj Pilgrims Participate in the Devil-Stoning Ritual

    1.6M Hajj Pilgrims Participate in the Devil-Stoning Ritual

    Muslim pilgrims gathered on Friday in Mina, Saudi Arabia, to partake in the final ritual of Hajj — the stoning of the devil.

    During this significant tradition, over 1.6 million pilgrims collected stones to throw seven times at three concrete pillars, which symbolize the devil. This ritual takes place in the Mina Valley, located just outside the sacred city of Mecca.

    Many pilgrims began their journey from the sprawling tent city in Mina well before sunrise, seizing the opportunity to enjoy the cooler morning temperatures.

    Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic "stoning of the devil" ritual as part of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina on June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Muslim pilgrims cast their stones at a pillar symbolizing Satan during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Muslim pilgrims cast their stones at a pillar symbolizing Satan during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Muslim pilgrims participate in the stoning of the devil ritual during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Muslim pilgrims participate in the stoning of the devil ritual during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Pilgrims throw stones towards pillars representing evil during Hajj, Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Pilgrims throw stones towards pillars representing evil during Hajj, Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Muslim pilgrims engage in the stoning ritual at the Hajj in Mina on June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Muslim pilgrims engage in the stoning ritual at the Hajj in Mina on June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Pilgrims participate in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Pilgrims participate in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Muslim pilgrims throw stones at pillars symbolizing Satan during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Muslim pilgrims throw stones at pillars symbolizing Satan during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    Pilgrims partake in the stoning ritual during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — AFP

    Pilgrims partake in the stoning ritual during Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2025. — AFP

  • Pilgrims Cast Stones at Devil as Hajj Journey Ends in Saudi Arabia

    Pilgrims Cast Stones at Devil as Hajj Journey Ends in Saudi Arabia

    Hajj pilgrims moving toward Mina valley to throw stones at pillars symbolizing the devil. — Screengrab/Makkah Live website

    • Pilgrims complete the final significant ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage.
    • Muslims across the globe mark the start of Eid ul Adha celebrations.
    • Reduced crowds and increased security measures at holy sites in Makkah.

    On Friday, pilgrims completed the final significant ritual of the Hajj known as the “stoning of the devil,” coinciding with the global celebration of Eid ul Adha.

    Beginning at dawn, over 1.6 million Muslims participating in the pilgrimage cast seven stones at three concrete pillars in Mina valley, symbolizing the devil.

    This ritual honors the biblical figure Abraham’s act of throwing stones at the devil at three specific locations where Satan attempted to dissuade him from carrying out God’s command to sacrifice his son.

    This year, authorities introduced several heat management strategies and intensified efforts to combat illegal pilgrimages, leading to fewer participants and a heavy security presence at sacred locations in Makkah and adjacent areas.

    These measures were implemented to avert a tragic repetition of last year’s pilgrimage, during which 1,301 people died amidst scorching temperatures that reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).

    Officials disclosed that most of the fatalities involved unauthorized pilgrims who entered Makkah without proper accommodations or essential services designed to safeguard them from the extreme desert heat.

    Hajj permits are allocated based on quotas assigned to various countries and are distributed through a lottery system.

    However, the high costs associated with obtaining permits often drive many to attempt the pilgrimage without authorization, risking arrest and deportation should they be caught.

    The stoning ritual site in Mina is notorious for a deadly stampede in 2015 that claimed the lives of 2,300 individuals, making it one of the most tragic incidents in Hajj history.

    Saudi Arabia generates billions of dollars annually from the Hajj, along with the smaller pilgrimage known as Umrah, which occurs at different times throughout the year.

    The conclusion of the Hajj coincides with the commencement of Eid ul Adha, a festive holiday characterized by communal feasting and the ritual slaughter of animals such as goats, sheep, cows, bulls, or camels.

  • Unlocking the Black Flame Ritual in Elden Ring: A Guide

    Unlocking the Black Flame Ritual in Elden Ring: A Guide

    The powerful Black Flame Ritual is an incantation given to the apostles by the Gloam-Eyed Queen in the game Elden Ring. This spell conjures pillars of black fire that not only shield the caster from attacks but also inflict fire damage on any foes caught in the blaze.

    This guide will walk you through how to locate this elusive spell in Elden Ring and how to maximize its effectiveness during gameplay.

    Where to Find the Black Flame Ritual

    You can acquire the Black Flame Ritual by defeating the Spiritcaller Snail boss located in the Spiritcaller Cave. This cave is situated in the northeastern section of the Mountaintop of the Giants.

    The cave entrance can be found directly northwest of the first Church of Marika and southeast of Castle Sol. Inside, you’ll encounter numerous snail enemies that summon various spirits to challenge you.

    Upon reaching the end of the cave, you will face the Spiritcaller Snail, which summons both a Godskin Apostle and a Godskin Noble in succession unless you defeat the snail first.

    Once vanquished, the Spiritcaller Snail will yield the Black Flame Ritual incantation as a reward.

    Attributes and Applications of the Black Flame Ritual

    To cast the Black Flame Ritual, you will need a sacred seal and a minimum of 42 Faith, along with one available spell slot.

    This incantation consumes 30 FP and 39 stamina per use. When cast, it surrounds the caster with pillars of black flame, effectively preventing enemies from executing melee attacks.

    The flames deal both fire and stance damage to nearby foes. However, there’s a drawback: the effect lasts only 4 seconds, during which the caster cannot move.

    You can charge the Black Flame Ritual to expand the radius of the pillars without altering the duration, and using the Godfrey Icon while charging will boost the damage by 15%.

    This spell is particularly useful against larger bosses, such as the Magma Wyrm, which tend to remain stationary. Compared to the Burn, O Flame incantation, the Black Flame Ritual significantly outclasses it by creating not only an opening for your attacks but also delivering substantial damage to large adversaries.

  • Exploring the Water Ritual in Caves of Qud

    Exploring the Water Ritual in Caves of Qud

    Exploring the Caves of Qud

    The world of the Caves of Qud is rich with deep lore and history, as each settlement comes with its own intricate backstory. As you roam this vast landscape, you’ll encounter various characters who have complex relationships, along with different factions that share unique ties.

    In your journeys, you will also have opportunities to build your own connections through quests and by participating in Water Rituals. But what exactly is this special ritual? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Water Ritual, including its significance and effects.

    What Is the Water Ritual?

    The Water Ritual involves the act of sharing a dram of water with a Legendary creature. These unique figures in the game are notable for their purple names. If you’re unsure whether an NPC is Legendary and can participate in the Water Ritual, just strike up a conversation with them. If the option for the Water Ritual is available, you’re good to go!

    During the ritual, you can exchange information that will impact your standing with various factions, depending on your relationship with the person you are performing the ritual with.

    Water Alternatives

    To perform the Water Ritual, you’ll need at least one dram of water. However, there are exceptions, such as for cannibals, who require a dram of blood. Here’s a list of alternatives and the factions that utilize them:

    Water Alternative Which Faction Uses This?
    Blood Cannibals, Children of Mamon, Glow-Wights
    Cloning Draught Girsh
    Oil Robots
    Slime Mollusks
    Warm Static Highly Entropic Beings

    Impact of the Water Ritual on Relationships

    Once you commence the Water Ritual, you’ll gain or lose favor with different factions based on your connection with your partner. The favor gains and losses are categorized as follows:

    Relationship to Water Ritual Partner Reputation Effect
    Admired or Loved +100
    Liked +50
    Disliked -50
    Hated -100

    Water Ritual Interactions

    During the Water Ritual, you’ll be faced with various options, each impacting your favor differently. Some actions, like sharing a secret, will boost your favor, while others, such as requesting a recipe, may result in a loss of favor.

    Here’s a look at some common choices that might come up during the ritual:

    Option Favor Gained/Lost
    Share a secret +50
    Share some gossip +100
    Ask for a secret -50
    Ask for the NPC to join you Varies by NPC level

    Depending on the specific NPC, there may also be unique interactions available, which are detailed below:

    Option Favor Gained/Lost Notes
    Teach you their ways (one skill) Lose favor equal to the skill points Only available from NPCs who teach skills
    Share dish of their people/teach signature dish -50 Only available from settlement NPCs
    Give an item Dependent on Commerce Available from certain merchant NPCs
    Teach a secret of aggregate mind Dependent on Mutation Cost Only from Seekers of the Sightless Ways
    Teach how to craft an item Dependent on Recipe Tier Only from Daughters of Exile
    Colonize fungi on you -30 Only from Fungi NPCs
    Teach you to think like a child -200 Only from Newly Sentient Beings
    Promise not to bother them +100 Unique to Hermit NPCs

    Can You Perform the Ritual Again?

    Yes, you can repeat the Water Ritual; however, you won’t gain or lose favor for doing it a second time. If there are additional interactions available, you can still choose from those. For instance, if you complete the ritual and later learn a secret, you can return and share it with the same NPC.

    Once you’ve performed the ritual with someone, you will be water-bonded with them. Checking the NPC will show you a summary, stating, "You are water-bonded with him/her."

    If you possess the Tactful mutation, you can revisit NPCs with whom you’ve shared the Water Ritual to gain 25 favor on a second occasion. This mutation can be learned from randomly generated factions, so be on the lookout!

  • Stopping the Venatori Ritual in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Last Rites

    Stopping the Venatori Ritual in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Last Rites

    Dragon Age: The Veilguard challenges players with eight primary enemy factions, and among these, the Venatori consistently emerge as a persistent annoyance for Rook throughout your journey. Your mission this time? Shatter the Venatori crystals and put a stop to a treacherous ritual that poses a threat to everyone.

    While the Venatori aren’t particularly inventive with their locking systems, there’s one key detail about the glowing red crystals scattered throughout this mission: they must be destroyed in a specific sequence. The trick is to follow the red beams that lead to their source until you find an unprotected crystal. Start by taking out this first crystal, and then you can proceed to the others that were previously shielded.

    How to Locate the Venatori Ritual Site

    The Last Rites mission kicks off in the Wharf Crossing North area, where you need to find and demolish red crystals at a Venatori ritual site. You’ll spot a crystal behind a red shield, concealed by some large pillars on the ground.

    If you wait a moment, you should see a red beam illuminating this crystal from above, tracing back to another red crystal hovering in the air.

    Begin by destroying the unshielded floating crystal, as this will disable the shield on the first crystal near the pillars. Once that’s taken care of, direct your attention toward the large red barrier to identify a third crystal that you can destroy.

    Finally, smash the red crystal on the door itself to deactivate the barrier and proceed through. Investigate the note in front of the now-accessible double doors, and your quest will update to help the person in need. Follow the marker down the nearby staircase to reach the Parthenius Main Docks.

    Here, you’ll face a group of Venatori, including a Blood Forge (vulnerable to Cold damage and resistant to Fire) that has an armor bar above its standard health.

    Utilizing area of effect (AoE) skills can be highly effective in this encounter, especially if you manage to group the Venatori close to the Blood Forge, as you can deliver significant damage to multiple foes simultaneously.

    Once you take down the Venatori forces, you’ll find a civilian trapped within a red force field, sustained by two shielded red crystals powering their main shield.

    How to Save the Trapped Civilian

    To begin rescuing the civilian, look up to the right of the boat beside them. You’ll notice an object hanging high that you can interact with. Engage with it to reveal the first unshielded crystal. Destroy this crystal, then take out the second crystal located on the boat, followed by the third one next to the civilian.

    Next, look to the north to find the source of another crystal series inside a nearby building along the dock. Destroy the first crystal inside that building. To find the second, turn around from that door and smash the crystal behind you. Lastly, destroy the third crystal by the civilian to free them from their red-shielded confinement.

    What Rewards Do You Get from Last Rites?

    After speaking with the rescued civilian, you will effectively complete Last Rites, earning the following rewards:

    • 500 XP
    • Increased bond with your companions
    • Improved faction strength

    As you continue your adventure, there will be many more Venatori to confront, so this isn’t the last time you’ll encounter those pesky red crystal challenges.