<sod >" The accident took place as the Grand Mosque prepared to welcome millions of pilgrims in a few weeksÃ¢ÂÂ time during Islam's annual haj pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.< eod>< sod > The accident took place as the Grand Mosque prepared to welcome the millions of pilgrims who will gather there later this month for Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.< eod>