1.3 mln Iranian Pilgrims Receive Iraqi Visa for Arbaeen: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraq has so far given 1.3 million Iranian applicants visas for going on pilgrimage to the Arab country’s city of Karbala to perform mourning rituals marking this year’s Arbaeen, head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency in Iran’s western city of Ilam on Thursday, Saeed Ohadi said 800,000 Iranian pilgrims have until now travelled to Iraq via three border crossings for the Arbaeen procession.
The official called on the Iranian travelers not to flock only into the Mehran border crossing in the province of Ilam, recommending them to use two other border crossings in Chazzabeh and Shalamcheh, located in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
Ohadi also expected a higher number of pilgrims crossing the border in the coming days.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.
Last year, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world gathered in Karbala on Arbaeen.