New Record Set for Number of Arbaeen Pilgrims
According to reports, more than 21.19 million pilgrims visited the holy city of Karbala to participate in the Arbaeen procession this year.
This is the largest number of people attending the magnificent religious event ever.
Over the past years, even in 2020 and 2021 when there were restrictions introduced to curb the coronavirus pandemic, the number of pilgrims has been growing.
In 2016 some 11.2 million Arbaeen pilgrims visited Karbala. The number rose to 13.8 million in 2017 and 15.3 million in the following year.
In 2019 there were also around 15.2 million people arriving in the city for Arbaeen. The number stood at 14.5 million in 2020 and 16.3 million in 2021.
After Iraq, Iran had the largest number of Arbaeen pilgrims in 2022 with an estimated 3.4 million Iranians taking part in the religious event.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen fell on September 17.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
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