Nearly 1.5 million Iranian pilgrims entered Iraq till late Friday to attend the Arba’een mourning ceremonies in the holy city of Karbala on December 2. The pilgrims travelled through three border areas of Mehran, Shalamcheh and Chazzabeh in southwestern Iran, IRNA reported. Officials say an estimated 2.5 million Iranian pilgrims would travel to Iraq for the annual event, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It marks the 40th day of Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shia Muslims and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Every year, pilgrims, travel on foot to Karbala where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein is located.
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