Muslim pilgrims mark Arbaeen in Karbala, across globe

For at least two weeks, pilgrims from countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have been arriving in the city, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, with tens of thousands coming before the actual day of Arba’een, which falls on August 25 this year.

Pilgrims travel to the holy city to have a chance to touch the gilded grille that surrounds Imam Hussein’s tomb and slip messages through the bars.

They carry their belongings in backpacks or bags perched on their heads as they move toward Karbala on foot from different directions. Many young men carry tents so that they can sleep on the streets.

People are seen in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on August 23, 2024 as pilgrims are heading to the holy city of Karbala to commemorate Arba’een, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

According to Iran's Arba'een Central Headquarters, 3.32 million Iranian nationals have so far crossed Iranian land border crossings into Iraq, and the process is going on smoothly.

Every year on Arba’een, millions of people from around the world flock to Karbala. Large groups of mourners travel on foot toward the holy city to take part in the largest annual Islamic gathering on earth.

Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD after fighting courageously for justice against the much larger army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.