MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Two million Moslem pilgrims in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday performed the final rituals of the haj and marked the start of the Eid al-Adha feast at the end of the sacred Islamic rite. From before dawn, thousands of pilgrims, dressed in two pieces of seamless white cloth traditionally worn during haj, prayed at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, site of Islam's holiest shrine. The pilgrims shuffled shoulder-to-shoulder around the black, cube-shaped Kaaba, the shrine covered by gold-embroidered black silk at the centre of the Grand Mosque which the one billion Moslems across the world must face when they pray. After sunrise, Moslems on the nearby plain of Mena began hurling stones at a pillar symbolising the devil, chanting "In the name of God. God is the greatest". Pelting the stone column and two others known as Jamraat concludes an elaborate set of rituals which must be performed during the annual pilgrimage. On Eid al-Ahda (Feast of Sacrifice), Moslems around the world slaughter sheep and cattle to mark the feast and donate the meat to the poor. Saudi officials said 700,000 sheep and more than 20,000 cattle and camels would be sacrificed by pilgrims this year. After the "stoning of the devil" ritual, the pilgrims head back to Mecca for prayers at the Grand Mosque. Those who came to the kingdom from abroad -- about one million people -- have to leave by April 10, the date set by the government for pilgrims to return home. The pilgrimage reached its climax on Monday at Mount Arafat near Mena where Prophet Mohammad gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago. A sea of men, women and children, mostly in white, clogged broad roads in the Mount Arafat area. They chanted, "I have answered your call, God. There is no God but you". Despite the crowds and 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) heat, many said haj was their most moving spiritual experience and made them feel "close to God". Pilgrims, who have come from around 100 countries, spent most of Monday praying at Mount Arafat before heading to Muzdalifah, about 10 km (six miles) away. This year's haj has been mostly free of the incidents which have marred previous pilgrimages.