Iraq gets ready to welcome 20 mn Karbala pilgrims

Baghdad, Dec 12 (IANS) The holy city of Karbala in Iraq is expected to host 20 million pilgrims for the Arba’een ceremony, Iraqi officials have said.

Black-clad pilgrims were walking towards Karbala, where they would take part in the mourning ceremonies around Imam Hossein’s shrine, Press TV reported.

According to Iraqi authorities, some 17 million people have already arrived in the holy city and three million more are expected Saturday.

The Shia Muslim religious ceremony, Arba’een, is held 40 days after the day of Ashura (the tenth day of Muharram). It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (Hussein bin Ali), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

The ceremony, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, falls Dec 13 this year.

Of around four million pilgrims who have come to Iraq this year, some 1.3 million are Iranians.

The procession would mark the Iranian Shias’ solidarity with the Iraqis as they are struggling to cope with terrorist attacks that are particularly aimed at their holy sites. Over the past months, the Sunni Islamic State (IS) jihadis have managed to take control of parts of Iraq.

This year, the Iraqi government has scrapped normal visa fees needed for Iranian nationals for entering Iraq. Iranian officials have also made efforts to facilitate the pilgrims’ journey to Karbala.

Iraqi forces have reportedly tightened security to protect the pilgrims against terrorist attacks. The Iraqi government has also adopted measures for an easier evacuation of pilgrims from Karbala.

Imam Hossein and his 72 companions were martyred in the battle of Karbala on the day of Ashura in 680 CE, after refusing to pledge allegiance to the tyrant ruler of his time.

The annual memorial for him, his family, his children and his As’haab (companions) is called Ashura (tenth day of Muharram) and is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims.