Iraq Ready to Host 5 Million Foreign Pilgrims during Arbaeen Season
It will begin on Saturday, August 19 and conclude on September 9.
Iran’s Consul General in the holy city of Najaf Rezauddin Kazemi and the deputy governor of Najaf, Hashim al-Kar’awi, met on Monday to discuss efforts and coordination between the two sides for serving Arbaeen pilgrims.
Al-Kar’awi said at the meeting that the governorate of Najaf and the bodies in charge of ensuring security and providing services are fully ready for the arrival of pilgrims.
He said the Najaf Governorate will implement a number of plans to serve the pilgrims and ensure their security.
The Iranian consul general thanked the Iraqi officials, including those in Najaf, for making efforts to serve millions of Arbaeen pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari said at a press conference on Monday that a special security plan has been launched in five governorates of the Arab country for the Arbaeen season.
He said between three to five million pilgrims are expected to enter Iraq via land border crossings for the annual Arbaeen march.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen fell on September 6.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
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