Tehran, Nov 29, IRNA - Vice-President and Head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization Masoud Soltanifar said on Sunday that the mourning ceremony of Arbaeen rituals, marking the 40th day after martyrdom anniversary of third Shiite Imam Hossein, will be jointly registered by Iran and Iraq as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) spiritual heritage list.

Arbaeen is the climax gathering of all Muslims in Kabala which is regarded as one of the most important pilgrimage venues in the world, he said.

Peoples travel very long distances to reach the venue during which special ceremonies are held, he said.

Attendance of millions of Muslims from Iraq and nearby countries, mostly from Iran, brings a very high status to the ritual ceremony, he said.

Mourning groups pave 83 kilometer long route from Najaf to Karbala to attend the unique ritual ceremony, Soltanifar said.

Registration of the event at UNESCO helps maintain and transfer the ritual ceremony to future generations, he said.

By IRNA