Basra Mourners March toward Karbala for Arbaeen
According to the website of the Astan (custodianship) of Imam Hussein (AS) holy shrine, they are accompanied by a group representing the Osara of Karbala (prisoners who were taken to the court of the Umayyad ruler Yazid after the Battle of Karbala on the day of Ashura in 680 AD).
Shia Muslims, and others in different parts of the world, hold ceremonies every year in the months of Muharram and Safar to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions.
The third Shia Imam (AS) and a small group of his followers and family members were martyred by the tyrant of his time - Yazid Bin Moaweya, in the battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram (known as Ashura).
Arbaeen comes 40 days after Ashura. Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
