Pilgrims Arriving in Karbala Ahead of Arbaeen
According to the website of the Astan (custodianship) of Imam Hussein (AS) holy shrine, most of the pilgrims are from the southern provinces, including al-Muthanna and al-Diwaniya.
A large number of Moukebs (resting places with special facilities and services for pilgrims set up on roads during the Arbaeen pilgrimage) are serving the pilgrims.
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 the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
This year, Iraq’s government will allow each country to send at most 1,500 pilgrims to the Arab country to take part in the Arbaeen processions.
The day of Arbaeen, marked on the 20th day of the lunar Hijri month of Safar, falls on Thursday, October 8, this year.
