People in Ardabil prepare for Muharram mourning ceremonies (photo)

People in Iran’s city of Ardabil perform special program ahead of the mourning month of Muharram. The first ten days of the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who was martyred, along with 72 of his companions, in the Battle of Karbala back in 680 AD.