Makkah, Saudi Arabia - More than 1.2 million people have already arrived for the Haj, which begins on Tuesday.
Published: Fri 18 Sep 2015, 2:41 PM
Updated: Sun 11 Oct 2015, 7:17 PM
Pilgrims from around the world have begun massing in Saudi Arabia for the Haj, one of the biggest gatherings on the planet, undeterred by a crane collapse that killed 108 people there.
More than 1.2 million people have already arrived for the Haj, which begins on Tuesday.
From all races and ages, they flocked into the Grand Mosque, where they prayed - some silently in tears and others loudly in groups carrying their countries' flags.
On September 11, during severe winds, a construction crane toppled into a courtyard of the Grand Mosque.
Saudis, Iranians, Nigerians, Malaysians, Indonesians and Indians were among the dead.
About 400 more people were injured, but it has not stopped pilgrims carrying out their rituals.
"Do you see the number of people here? Do you think they are fearful? It is quite the opposite. People here have faith in God and perceive those that died as martyrs," said Amin Al Rahman of Bangladesh.
The crane was one of several on a multi-billion-dollar expansion to accommodate increasing numbers of people.
With another million pilgrims expected for the Haj, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz acted swiftly to sanction the developer, Saudi Binladin Group.
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