Iranians Traveling to Karbala for Arbaeen Warmly Welcomed by Iraqis
A warm and sincere welcome is being extended by Iraqis to the hundreds of thousands of Iranian nationals who are entering the Arab nation and traveling to the holy city of Karbala to observe Arbaeen.
The event which falls 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam, draws millions of pilgrims from around the world to visit the gold-domed shrines of Imam Hussein (AS) and his brother Hazrat Abbas (AS).
There have reportedly been issues with the transit of Iranian pilgrims to Karbala, which is located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Baghdad.
The government of Iraq and its citizens are attempting to regulate the situation and overcome the challenges.
To solve the issue, Iraqis have drove their own cars toward the border crossings. There are now much more people trying to enter Iraq than in years past with only one week till Arbaeen rites.
Seven days prior to Arbaeen, it was anticipated that between one and 1.5 million individuals entered Iraq through Iranian land and air borders.
One could say that all Iraqi people are playing their share this year to host pilgrims in the best possible form, and have rolled up their sleeves to give the guests a hearty and sincere welcome.
Apart from the main and secondary routes leading to Karbala, even unofficial routes and houses on the outskirts of the holy shrine cities of Karbala and Najaf have also turned into stalls to welcome and accommodate pilgrims.
Every year on Arbaeen, millions of people from around the world flock to Karbala. Large groups of mourners travel on foot toward the holy city to take part in the largest annual Islamic gathering on earth. The ceremony falls on September 17 this year.
Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD after fighting courageously for justice against the much larger army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.
