Arbaeen 2014: 20 Million Pilgrims Flock to Karbala (PHOTOS)

11.01.2018

More and more Shia pilgrims from around the globe were pouring into Karbala on 13 December to commemorate the religious ceremony, which observes the 40th day after the anniversary of martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hossein, according to the Shia Post.

Pilgrims, clad in black dresses, were reportedly walking toward Karbala, where they take part in the mourning ceremonies around the shrine of Imam Hossein. Iraqi forces have already tightened security to protect people from any possible terrorist attacks. The Iraqi government has also kept measures in place to evacuate pilgrims in case of an emergency.

The procession – which includes some 1.3 million members from Iran – marks Iranian Shias' solidarity with the Iraqis as the country struggles to cope with the deadly onslaught of the notorious Sunni hardliner militant group, Islamic State aka ISIS or ISIL.

"The number of Arab and foreign pilgrims has reached 4.5 million, of 60 different nationalities, the biggest contingent being Iranians," Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi told reporters on Friday.

"And until today, we had 13 million Iraqis," he said.

December 13, 2014

Ibtimes.co.in