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Filmed on September 23, 2021.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims flooded into Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to mark Arbaeen on Monday, the 40th day after the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein.
Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the death of Shiite leader and grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, in a battle fought at Karbala in 680 AD.
The day sees millions of Shiite Muslims from across the world including Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait and especially Iraq’s Shiite-majority neighbor, Iran.
Ahead of Arbaeen, mainly foreign pilgrims set out on a symbolic 80-kilometer-long walk that begins from the city of Najaf where the shrine of Imam Hussein’s father is located, to Karbala which houses Imam Hussein’s shrine. It is customary to dress in black as they march the streets of the city, often hitting themselves with chains and wood.
Stalls of food and water are usually set up by local residents and volunteers to make sure that no pilgrim goes hungry or thirsty. Small tents, lined with mattresses and blankets for people who want to rest, are placed along the path.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi visited the city of Karbala late Sunday, where he was briefed on the security plan that was set by officials to ensure the safety of visitors.
Baghdad limited the number of foreigners to 40,000 attending the annual pilgrimage this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to AFP, allowing only 30,000 Iranians.
However, it later doubled the quota of Iranians to 60,000 and 59,000 have already traveled to Iraq, according to Iran's international media outlet Press TV.
Last year, Iraq curbed the number of visitors to 1,500 per country as the coronavirus was spreading around the globe.
Millions of people flocked into Karbala last month to mark Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.
Video reporting by Halkawt Aziz
Translation by Zhelwan Zeyad Wali
Editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
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