New Green Initiative to Shade Pilgrims on Najaf-Karbala Road

IQNA – The Astan (custodianship) of the holy shrine of Hazrat Abbas (AS) launched a major campaign to plant trees along “Ya Hussein (AS) Road”, the route connecting the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, which attracts millions of pilgrims during Arbaeen.

It is a joint initiative undertaken with the direct cooperation of the Karbala local government, Iraq’s official news agency reported.  

In this project, the planting of the first tree on the road was carried out with the participation of the secretary general of the Astan, Mustafa Murtadha Zia al-Din, his deputy, and a number of members of the Board of Directors, in addition to government officials, in a symbolic action that emphasizes the importance of the project and the beginning of its actual implementation, the Astan said.

Jawad al-Hasnawi, head of the monitoring committee of the project, said the tree planting initiative aims to alleviate the suffering of pilgrims during the millions-strong Arbaeen pilgrimages that often coincides with the summer season and high temperatures, and there is not enough shade along the route, which consequently creates a heavy burden for pilgrims.

He added that Allamah Ahmad al-Safi, the custodian of the holy shrine, has ordered the Astan to implement the comprehensive tree planting plan on both sides of the road, from Karbala to Najaf, with the aim of providing a more comfortable environment for pilgrims.

Al-Hasnawi explained that the first phase of this project has already begun and covers the distance from Karbala to the Khan al-Nas area.

He stressed that the Astan has used all its logistical and technical departments and capabilities to complete this project.

This work is being carried out in cooperation with the local government of Karbala, represented by the Public Services Department, and under the direct supervision of the Karbala Governorate, in addition to the participation of relevant service departments, including the Water Resources Department, which oversees the project’s needs in terms of water supply and irrigation management, he noted.

Arbaeen is a religious event observed by Shia Muslims on the fortieth day after the Day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the third Shia imam.

It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with millions of Shia Muslims, as well as many Sunnis and followers of other religions, walking to Karbala from various cities in Iraq, especially Najaf.

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