Iran is trying to register the Arba’een ritual as an Islamic spiritual heritage in UNESCO.
The issue was announced at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Hassan Rouhani, on Sunday, IRNA reported.
Head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Masoud Soltanifar, said a plan to this effect is being prepared in coordination with the Iraqi government.
The registration on UNESCO heritage will help transfer and preserve the ritual to future generations.
Arba’een is one of the largest gatherings of pilgrims in which up to 20 million people travel long distances to converge on the holy city of Karbala in Iraq, where special ceremonies are held to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam, 40 days after Ashura when the Imam and 72 of his companions were martyred by Yazid’s army in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
