Najaf Ready to Host Arbaeen Pilgrims
This is according to Sayyed Hablulmatin, secretary general of the Astan (custodianship) of Imam Ali (AS) holy shrine in Najaf.
He said Najaf is prepared to serve millions of pilgrims traveling to the city from different parts of Iraq and other countries for Arbaeen.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites. Many of them also visit Imam Ali’s (AS) holy shrine in Najaf.
In the past few years, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world, including Iran, took part in the mourning ceremonies in Iraqi holy cities marking Arbaeen.
This year, Arbaeen falls on Sunday, November 20.
