In this aerial photo taken with a drone, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood arrive at the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
TOUBA, Senegal (AP) - Tens of thousands of Muslims descended upon Senegal's holy city this week for the annual Grand Magal pilgrimage, a tradition in West Africa that some fear could become a super-spreader event for COVID-19.
The Magal honors the founder of the Mouride Brotherhood, Senegal's most influential religious order. In previous years, as many as 3 million people have traveled to the city of Touba during Magal, with many coming from neighboring Gambia.
With Senegal's land borders still closed, fewer pilgrims attended the main events Tuesday. Closely packed lines queued up to enter the Grand Mosque of Touba, though hand sanitizer and masks were required to enter.
Mam Thierno, 41, has lived in Italy for nearly a decade but chose to travel home to Senegal for Magal even amid the pandemic, calling it a deeply moving experience for him and his family.
'œTo go a year without Magal would be too much for me,'ť he said. 'œWith the pandemic there are people who say we shouldn't hold the Magal in Touba ... I know the disease is here, COVID-19 exists, but I still came.'ť
Senegal was among the first African countries to report a confirmed COVID-19 case but has avoided the high death tolls seen elsewhere, in large part due to widespread required mask-wearing and restrictions on travel.
The country has had more than 15,000 confirmed cases and 312 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus.
Even with the precautions taken, some are fearful that Touba - once an early virus hotspot - could now see a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the weeks after Magal. Many people crowded into homes due to limited accommodations in town during the pilgrimage.
The virus also could potentially spread to communities far from Touba via people returning home on public transport. Buses only leave for their destination once completely full.
Sokhna Bousso Diop couldn't help notice many of the pilgrims were not following the face-covering rules outside the perimeters of the mosque. Still, she turned to her faith for assurance.
'œWe are confident that Serigne Touba has not forgotten us,'ť she said, referring to the founder of the Mouride Brotherhood. 'œLet's keep on praying. Everything will go smoothly.'ť
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Associated Press writer Abdoulie John contributed to this report.
Wearing protective face masks, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood pray outside the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
In this aerial photo taken with a drone, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood arrive at the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
People cut an ox in pieces after slaughtering it on a street, in preparation for a feast during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
People cut an ox in pieces after slaughtering it on a street, in preparation for the feast as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
People cut oxen in pieces after slaughtering it on a street, in preparation for the feasts as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Wearing protective face masks, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood pray outside the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Wearing protective face masks, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood stand in line to enter the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A man cuts an ox in pieces after slaughtering it on a street, in preparation for a feast as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood share a big dish of traditional Senegalese food, distributed by volunteers, outside the Grand Mosque of Touba, as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood share a big dish of traditional Senegalese food, distributed by volunteers, outside the Grand Mosque of Touba, as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Wearing protective face masks, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood queue to enter the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Wearing protective face masks, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood pray outside the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
Volunteers distribute big dishes of traditional Senegalese food to pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood, outside the Grand Mosque of Touba, as part of the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press
In this aerial photo taken with a drone, pilgrims from the Mouride Brotherhood arrive at the Grand Mosque of Touba during the celebrations of the Grand Magal of Touba, in Senegal, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people from the Mouride Brotherhood, an order of Sufi Islam, gather for the annual religious pilgrimage to celebrate the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the founder of the brotherhood. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The Associated Press